Online and Regional Campus Gains Underscore VTSU’s Commitment to Flexibility, Affordability, and Student Success
This story was originally published by VermontBiz on November 12, 2025.
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University’s (VTSU) Fall 2025 enrollment numbers reflect the new university’s focus on meeting the needs of students, employers, and communities by adapting and adjusting to shifting demographics, and ongoing disruption across higher education. With final enrollment numbers now confirmed, the university reports a total headcount of 5,185 students – an increase of 1.4% compared to Fall 2024.
Several areas of enrollment growth point to the strength of VTSU’s strategic direction. Online enrollment continues to surge, with a 10% increase in headcount. This increase highlights the growing demand for flexible, accessible learning and reinforces the Vermont State Colleges (VSC) system’s Vision 2030 commitment to provide high-quality higher education to every Vermonter, regardless of their income or location.
VTSU’s Lyndon and Williston campuses both experienced headcount growth – up 0.7% and 2% respectively. Other locations, including satellite sites and Early College Program participation, rose 7.5% in headcount, showing positive engagement in alternate learning sites and flexible partnerships. Additionally, enrollment in the university’s highly-demanded plumbing and electrical apprenticeship programs continued their multi-year growth trend, jumping 3% in headcount this fall and further signalling student interest in these career-ready programs that lead to secure, high-wage employment.
While overall headcount rose, VTSU’s student body included a larger than expected number of part-time students, a growing trend within VTSU and across the higher education landscape, and an unexpected 7.7% decline in out-of-state students. The ripple effects of this dip in out-of-state students were felt across several VTSU locations, with headcount declines on the Johnson (1.5%), Castleton (8.4%), and Randolph (14.3%) campuses, despite notable growth in key programs on all three locations including Elementary Education (up 58%), Health Science (up 26%), and Mechanical Engineering (up 46%).
A Good Neighbor Tuition program, only recently approved by the VSC Board of Trustees, is just one example of new enrollment initiatives that are being implemented to support a rebound in out-of-state enrollment and continue strengthening VTSU’s communities of learning across all locations. This program reintroduces Vermont resident tuition rates for students from select counties in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, provided they meet specific campus residency requirements.
As part of its commitment to our state’s economic vitality, VTSU continues to serve a growing in-state student population. With over 76% of students hailing from Vermont—a 4.1% increase of in-state headcount compared to Fall 2024—VTSU continues to be a critical education and workforce development engine for the state.
“We are building a university that reflects the Vermont we all deserve: a place where learning is accessible to all, campuses fuel community renewal, and education drives economic opportunity and social and civic engagement,” said Vermont State University President David Bergh. “With Vision 2030 as our guide, we are moving with urgency and resolve to meet the evolving needs of our learners, our economy, and our state.”
“While this year’s enrollment gains are smaller than we anticipated, there are a number of enrollment bright spots to focus on and learn from that affirm our overall strategic direction. Our current enrollment numbers are also a reflection of the reality of the current higher education market: a student-demand-driven landscape that continues to change rapidly, requiring equally swift adaptation and innovation to stay relevant and competitive. While we are still working towards long-term institutional stability, alongside many of our peer institutions, I’m as optimistic about our future as I’ve ever been,” Bergh added.
The university is fast-tracking key components of Vision 2030 to ensure it remains competitive, responsive, and student-centered. This includes expanding online offerings to serve non-traditional learners, aligning academic programs with workforce needs through market research, and redesigning student support systems to better serve diverse populations.
VTSU’s online learners reflect a broad demographic spectrum, with an average age of 33.7, while graduate students average over 40 years old. These figures highlight the university’s appeal to adult learners balancing education with work and family responsibilities. Undergraduate students, meanwhile, average 24.7 years of age, reflecting a mix of ages across modalities.
“We’re seeing strong interest in our online programs and continued growth in key areas that reflect how we’re adapting to meet students where they are,” said Maurice Ouimet, Vice President of Admissions & Enrollment Services at Vermont State University. “Our learners are working, parenting, and contributing to their communities, and they need education that’s responsive, flexible, and built around their lives. That’s exactly what VTSU is delivering.”
The university also remains a powerful access point for first-generation college students. This fall, 52% of enrolled students identify as first-generation, a slight increase from the previous year. “We’re proud to be a first-choice institution for students who are the first in their families to attend college,” added Ouimet. “It speaks to the exceptional support our staff and faculty provide students on a daily basis throughout their time at VTSU.”
This fall, VTSU has also partnered with the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to launch Freedom & Unity, a new tuition-free program that hundreds of eligible Vermonters are already taking advantage of. Through this program, more than half of Vermont households will be able to jump start their college education at VTSU tuition-free.