Vermont Residency Rules

 Difficulty

How to get in-state at Universities in Vermont:

Vermont is super tough!  Pretty much don’t even think about earning in-state status in Vermont as a conventional undergrad.  Vermont is a unique state when it comes to in-state residency and an interesting case.

There’s really one major university in Vermont and that’s University of Vermont in Burlington.  It’s a cool place and a cool school that’s very sought-after.  It has an enormous glut of out-of-state students, around 61% which is unheard of, who pay around $22,000 more per year for the same education.  It’s been like this for a long time now so you can imagine the school’s budget is accustomed to all that out-of-state tuition money.

They’ve made a provision in the state laws (easier to do in a small state with 1 major university) that effectively forbids the huge bulk of those who would benefit from in-state status from getting in-state status…so basically it’s possible but just so long as you’re not…a human being.  Let me tell you what I mean…every state has some version of “if you move to our state and attend school then you are presumed to be here for the solely or primarily for educational reasons; you can overcome this with clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.”  Vermont on the other hand has made it so you basically can’t overcome that presumption no matter what you do and moreover, if you even apply to the school before moving to Vermont AND establishing your domicile, then you are forever banished from in-state status.

For example, say you are accepted to UV, move and commit to the great state of Vermont, establish ties there and sever ties everywhere else, you never leave the state, you work full-time and 100% completely financially support yourself…can you earn in-state then?  Nope.  It’s outrageous right!  How can they get away with this?  This seems to be in contrast to federal statutes granting the freedom of inter-state movement.  Yes, totally!  But, Vermont is a unique case and perhaps if any state can get away it, why not Vermont?

Vermont Reciprocity Agreements:

Vermont is a member state of the Regional Student Program which is a limited regional reciprocity agreement among select Northeastern States. Favorable college tuition rates in nearby states are sometimes possible through reciprocity although many restrictions apply.

See Tuition Reciprocity Agreements Explained

See Tuition Reciprocity Agreements Overpromise & Under-Deliver

University-Specific Overviews Below:

Below please find links to in-state overviews for select universities in Vermont. If your college is not highlighted, then please consider buying a University-Specific Nutshell Report or see all available university-specific in-state overviews.

Popular Universities in Vermont:

University of Vermont-Burlington

Other Universities in Vermont:

Castleton State College-Castleton
Johnson State College-Johnson
Lyndon State College-Lyndon
University of Vermont College of Medicine-Burlington
Vermont Technical College-Randolph Center