Pioneering Accessible, Career-Focused Education for Every Learner
At Vermont State University, students always come first. We build educational experiences to form students who will thrive in their personal and professional lives, facilitating positive change wherever their paths may lead.
These are the mission and vision that give focus to our efforts.
Mission
Vermont State University prepares all students for meaningful work and responsible citizenship by fostering their intellectual, personal, and creative growth in an accessible, caring, and inclusive community.
As Vermont’s regional public university, our technological, professional, and liberal arts programs engage with partners throughout Vermont and beyond to provide students with rich real-world learning while meeting the needs of our communities and the state.
Vision
Vermont State University’s commitment is to the success of every student. We will stand as Vermont’s regional public university with interconnected campuses and sites dispersed throughout the state, a community dedicated to providing accessible and affordable higher learning. Our innovative, relevant programs will focus on student success and career readiness, and will meet students where they are on their educational journey. We will support students’ academic, social, and personal growth, as well as their futures as skilled leaders and lifelong learners through an integrated academic and extra-curricular experience. A culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion will be fostered and endure. Our students’ transformational experience will be nurtured through intentional interactions and relationships.
The University will provide globally relevant programs spanning the technological, professional, and liberal arts and designed to address the needs and challenges facing Vermont and our world. Students will be drawn to an academic experience that reaches beyond the classroom into our communities with our Green Mountain State as a living laboratory. We will embrace public engagement and partnerships as our civic responsibility, actively contributing to the vibrancy of our communities and their relevance in the global economy. In doing so, our students will gain understanding of community and self and their impact in the world. Our purpose will live on for generations in the positive contributions of our alumni.
Vermont State Colleges System Vision 2030
As part of the Vermont State Colleges System, we envision a future where every Vermonter has the opportunity to pursue affordable, flexible, and workforce-aligned education—from industry specific credentials to advanced degrees—igniting new careers, fueling lifelong learning, strengthening Vermont’s economy, and enhancing social well-being across the state.
How we’ll get there: We recognize that educational needs ebb and flow throughout a person’s life. That’s why we are building a system that is responsive, inclusive, and accessible—meeting people where they are and when they need it most. We aim to be the trusted partner Vermonters turn to for training, credentials, and advancement opportunities across their entire life journey by:
- Modern Spaces for Modern Living and Learning Just as we’re transforming how education is delivered, we’re also reimagining where it happens. Across Vermont, we’re updating and adapting our campus facilities to support the needs of today’s learners and communities — from student-centered apartments and flexible classrooms to spaces shared with local partners. VTSU campuses are becoming more than learning environments — they’re vibrant community assets, designed to support academic success, regional development, and lifelong connection.
- Meeting Vermonters Where They Are We are transforming how education meets real life. The needs of today’s students, families, and communities are different — and we’re responding with flexibility and relevance. Whether someone is just out of high school or mid-career, we are committed to ensuring their education fits their lives, not the other way around.
- Making College Possible for Every Vermonter We’re breaking down financial and structural barriers so more Vermonters can access education. Through initiatives like the Freedom & Unity Scholarships, income-eligible Vermonters can attend VTSU for free.
- Clear and Connected Pathways We’re building clear, flexible pathways that help Vermonters go further — whether that means starting with a certificate and building toward a degree, or transferring from one institution to another. With over 35 CCV-to-VTSU pathways already in place, we’re making it easier to turn possibility into progress.
- Every Program, Everywhere: Online Access for All Access to education shouldn’t depend on where you live, how much you earn, or what your schedule looks like. That’s why we’re working to ensure that nearly every VTSU program has a high-quality online option. This isn’t just about convenience — it’s about equity, flexibility, and making learning possible for more Vermonters. Our digital transformation is rooted in one goal: delivering real opportunity, anytime and anywhere.
The Roots of Vermont State University
The creation of Vermont State University is an exciting new chapter in higher education in Vermont. It is the continuation, however, of a much longer story of innovation and adaptation to the changing educational needs of Vermont’s students. Find out where it all began.
