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
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.
We’re committed to the success of every student and to positive impact in the communities of Vermont. Specifically, we work to provide:
A Lasting Legacy: The investments we make now in achieving these priorities will live on for generations in the positive contributions of our alumni to their families, their communities, our state, and our world.
Access: As Vermont’s regional public university with interconnected campuses and sites dispersed throughout the state, we’re positioned to provide flexible learning options and affordable tuition to put higher education within reach of every student in the state.
Career Readiness: We will continue to design innovative, relevant programs that focus on student success and career readiness. We will meet students where they are and support them as they journey toward where they want to be.
Multifaceted Growth: 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 extracurricular experience.
Welcoming Community: We will embrace our differences and foster a culture in which all are heard, valued, and respected.
Relational Connection: We will intentionally nurture the interactions and relationships that are at the heart of transformative education.
Relevant Programs: We will design globally relevant programs spanning the technological, professional, and liberal arts that address the needs and challenges facing Vermont and our world.
Off-Campus Experiences: Students will extend and apply their knowledge beyond the classroom and into our communities with our Green Mountain State as a living laboratory for exploration and growth.
Community Engagement: We will embrace public engagement as our civic responsibility, actively contributing to the cultural and academic life of our state. As we do so, our students will gain an appreciation of community and be inspired to envision their impact on the world.
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.
