01. What the School is Known For
From the School
Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, private college overlooking Lake Champlain in charming Burlington, Vermont. Its innovative, career-focused approach to education is nationally recognized for shaping graduates who are ready for work, ready for life, and ready to make a difference.
Champlain students take classes in their major on day one through the Upside-Down Curriculum, allowing them to graduate with more professional experiences—such as internships, jobs, and fieldwork opportunities—and a deeper understanding of their industries. The results: 90% of the Class of 2023 was employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.
Champlain's small size and professional opportunities attract relentlessly inquisitive and open-minded individuals who are engaged in their community and fiercely dedicated to building the world they want to live in.
Most Popular Places On Campus
Sr. Leahy Center for Digital Forenics
Center for Communication and Creative Media
Miller Information Commons
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Church Street Marketplace
Muddy Waters coffee house
From The School
At Champlain, our students are creative, innovative thinkers who learn by doing. They're here because they have ideas—big ones—about technology, design, storytelling, and solving problems that actually matter. They're passionate. Ambitious. Ready to do real work, not just talk about it someday.
Our campus culture reflects that energy. With 50+ student-run clubs—from e-sports tournaments and film production collectives to hiking expeditions and social justice initiatives—you'll find your people here. (The deeply discounted season passes to Sugarbush ski resort don't hurt, either.)
It's not uncommon for our students to feel seen, welcomed, and at home from the moment they step foot on campus. Maybe it's something in the waters of Lake Champlain that makes our community so kind, quirky, and caring, but we like to think our students are genuinely just themselves here.
What students say:
Champlain's student population is summed up by one as "Champlain attracts a certain type: open, artistic, thoughtful, and intelligent," while another student is a little more blunt: "We are all nerdy in our own special way." It's a self-selective, "open-minded" population that's passionately adored by those who know what to expect: students "fit in well if they have researched the college before coming, as it is a small community within a larger community." There is "literally a bit of everything. Nerds, partiers, skiers, snowboarders, skateboarders, and hippies." Another summarizes the Champlain student body as "everyone is incredibly friendly and supportive. I love that it's large enough not to know everyone but small enough that it still feels like family." As a whole, Champlain students are "motivated and engaged." They enjoy the social opportunities afforded by Burlington and Champlain, but "are also serious about doing big things and going far in life."
Gender
37% female63% male
Out of State
77% are out
of state23% are
in-state
Students
95% are
full time5% are
part time
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,691
Foreign Countries Represented
8
Student Body Demographics
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.18%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
0.06%
03. Admissions & Acceptance RateScroll to Top 
Admissions
From the School:
We're always on the lookout for highly motivated students ready to make an impact. You can apply for free using the Common Application or Champlain's own application. Our college also offers Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision—no test scores or essay required.
When reviewing applications, we'll request transcripts, a list of extracurricular activities, and recommendations. Test scores are optional. While GPA, class rank, and other academic records tell us a lot about your readiness for our career-focused programs, we also look for strong writing and communication skills.
Transfer applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and we offer practical pathways to make completing your degree at Champlain as easy as possible.
Applicants
3,602
Acceptance Rate
88%
Average HS GPA
3.51
Deadlines
Early Decision
November 15
GPA Breakdown
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn More
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
620 - 700
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
600 - 680
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1220 - 1300
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
26 - 29
What would you score on the digital SAT today?
Testing Policies
Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional
Other Admission Factors Academic
Academic GPA
From the School
Champlain College is different, and that's by design. We believe that flexibility fuels discovery and that the best education is one that students actively shape. With 30 flexible credits built into every major, you'll have unprecedented freedom to carve out the skills, experiences, and work that will make you stand out in competitive fields.
Our Upside-Down Curriculum offers a deeper experience and more opportunities for internships and co-ops throughout your time here. It puts you in your major in your first semester and encourages your confidence to explore, or pivot (early!) if your interests evolve. Champlain students build genuine expertise, layer specialized knowledge, and graduate with a portfolio that demonstrates real capability.
Through community-engaged learning and our applied General Education curriculum, you'll step outside the classroom and work directly with local organizations on projects that matter. We want you to learn the same way you'll work in the real world: on teams. Our interdisciplinary approach brings together students across majors to collaborate on complex challenges—applying insights from the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences to real community needs. You won't just study problems; you'll work to solve them, developing practical skills in teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving that employers value.
At Champlain, hands-on learning isn't a supplement to your education—it's the foundation.
What students say
The students at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, are "professional" and "careerminded," and name Champlain's "career-focused curriculum" as a primary reason for choosing the college. "Networking and the emphasis on internships at Champlain lead to a great deal of job placements relevant to your chosen major after (or before!) graduation," extols one student. Students love the "small class sizes," which "allow your professors and classmates to know, contribute, and follow your success." They're also crazy about Champlain's UpsideDown Curriculum, which uniquely allows undergraduates to jump right into key classes: "I could begin major-related work on the first day." Game design, filmmaking, digital forensics, psychology, and marketing are all offered as majors, distinguishing Champlain's available courses of study to many applicants, with its "strong focus on major-specific skills, and field-applicable classwork." For the most part, students say the professors are "engaging, encouraging, and interesting" and "do all they can to help students understand the material and reach their full potential." Champlain works hard to produce graduates who know "how to survive and thrive in the business world" and "reach their highest level of satisfaction." Champlain is a "career-focused school that gives students the tools to succeed in the professional world." This career-conscious education is animated by Champlain's "engaging, encouraging, and interesting" professors, who "know your name," are "enthusiastic about the students' education," and "come from extremely professional backgrounds and add personal touches to their discussions that make students want to participate." In addition to academic curricula, Champlain's InSight program "readies students for outside life," teaching life skills such as "financial sophistication" and fostering a "strong sense of community." For those interested in the burgeoning gaming industry, "Champlain's game [majors are] also rigorous and unique, bringing students from amateurs to developing a game in a seemingly short four years." Champlain's greatest academic strength lies in "excellent professors, innovative classes," and an "inviting small-classroom environment."
Student : Faculty
11.7 : 1
Total Faculty
212
Terminal Degree
73
Gender to Class Inforamtion
Class/Lab sizes
Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19
Rating
Graduation Rates
University Degrees
Associate
Bachelor's
Certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Majors and Degrees Offered
ANIMATION (BFA)
APPLIED MATHEMATICS (BS)
APPLIED SUSTAINABILITY (BS)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BS)
COMPUTER NETWORKING & CYBERSECURITY (BS)
COMPUTER SCIENCE & INNOVATION (BS)
CREATIVE MEDIA (BFA)
CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE (BS)
DEGREE DESIGN LAB/INTEGRATIVE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (BS)
DIGITAL FORENSICS (BS)
DIGITAL HUMANITIES (BS)
DEGREE DESIGN LAB: INTEGRATIVE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (BS)
EDUCATION (BS)
FILMMAKING (BFA)
GAME ART (BFA)
GAME BUSINESS & PUBLISHING (BS)
GAME DESIGN (BS)
GAME PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT (BS)
GAME PROGRAMMING (BS)
GAME SOUND DESIGN (BS)
GRAPHIC DESIGN & VISUAL COMMUNICATION (BFA)
INTERACTION DESIGN (BS)
INTERACTIVE NARRATIVE FOR GAMES & DIGITAL MEDIA (BS)
MARKETING (BS)
MARKETING COMMUNICATION (BS)
PSYCHOLOGY (BS)
SOCIAL WORK (BSW)
WRITING & PUBLISHING (BS)
.
Location
Picture this: you're living in a beautifully restored Victorian-era mansion on a hilltop with stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. That's your everyday reality at Champlain. Our 27-acre campus in Burlington's Hill Section puts you minutes from downtown—think local coffee shops, live music, food spots, and outdoor adventures—while giving you a home base that's equal parts historic charm and modern comfort.
With state-of-the-art facilities, small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, and hands-on learning spaces designed to mirror real professional environments, you'll have everything you need to start building the world you want to live in, with a community you can count on for life.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
At Champlain, hands-on learning happens through our cutting-edge facilities across campus. We immerse our students in agency-like settings where they consult, problem-solve, and design solutions for real clients facing challenges in social justice, cybersecurity, business, and media.
The Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity connects undergrads with hands-on experience in real investigations and threat mitigation. As designated a National Center of Digital Forensics Excellence by the U.S. Department of Defense and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA, we're leaders in safeguarding the future.
Our esports arena at the Miller Center Lakeside campus is designed for competition, content creation, live broadcasting, and community. You can cheer on one of our varsity teams, jump into high-level or recreational play, and connect with other students. Whether you're grinding ranked matches or just hanging out between classes, the facility is open to all Champlain students, so grab a controller and stay awhile.
Champlain students also have access to multiple makerspaces, including the Generator Makerspace, where they work alongside Burlington's artists, designers, and makers using laser cutters, 3D printers, and industry-standard software.
At the heart of Champlain's creative programming is the Center for Communication & Creative Media. This 75,000-square-foot facility houses game and graphic design labs, a production stage, sound studios, and art galleries, all designed for multidisciplinary collaboration.
The IDX Student Life Center houses our main dining hall, Wellness & Fitness Center, and Argosy Gymnasium, with views of the lake and mountains.
The Miller Information Commons stands out as a premier library facility, offering extensive print and digital collections but also advanced technologies to support research and study. A popular study spot for students, this library facility also provides some of the most breathtaking views in Burlington.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Burlington isn't just where you'll go to school—it's where you'll launch your career. Thanks to strong local partnerships, Champlain students are the interns of choice at companies like Ben & Jerry's, Burton Snowboards, Seventh Generation, Keurig Dr Pepper, and KPMG. You'll find opportunities everywhere, from tech startups to nonprofits or even the Department of Homeland Security.
Consistently ranked as a top college town, Burlington delivers small-town charm with big-city energy: live music venues, farm-to-table restaurants, local shops, and outdoor adventures right outside your door. Between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, you'll have year-round access to hiking, biking, paddleboarding, skiing, and snowboarding. Vermont is your playground.
As an innovation hub and home to environmentally conscious companies like Beta Technologies and OnLogic, Burlington's entrepreneurial scene gives you the perfect environment to network, land meaningful internships, or even launch your own startup. Here, your classroom extends far beyond campus.
What students say:
The small liberal arts college in cozy Burlington, Vermont, has a heavy academic focus on the video game industry, and skiing and gaming figure prominently into Champlain's social life. "There is a lot to do in town, and on campus there are often events put on by clubs or the SGA [Student Government Association]. Every Thursday, a bus also takes students from campus to free bowling or to see a free movie at the movie theater." Students love Burlington"full of endless opportunities for both outside and indoor activities"-and enjoy the shops and nightlife of Church Street. Both Champlain and Burlington "heavily promote sustainable living," and as such, students learn "an incredible amount about how to help and be aware of my community and ecosystem." For the dedicated skier/student, Champlain IDs will nab you discounted ski passes in the area, and "snow dictates class attendance in the spring." Overall, the outdoorsy will find plenty to love about Champlain and the mantra seems to be, "Anything to be outside." Indoors, the "laid-back" social atmosphere tends toward "play[ing] video games rather often," and "there is an excellent music scene here in Burlington."
Undergraduates living on campus
82%
First-Year students living on campus
93%
Campus Environment
Suburban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
Campus Housing Options
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
50
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
0
Athletic Other
Sustainability
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% Food Budget Spent On Sustainably Or Ethically Produced Food
4%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Bicycle or Scooter Sharing
Car Sharing Or Carpooling
Program Designed To Incentivize The Use Of Public Transportation
CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit 91³Ô¹Ï's page
on campus safety for additional resources:
Visit Page
91³Ô¹Ï publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available.
Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security
Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education:
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Fee for Network Use
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Available for faculty & staff;
Other:
Available for all students;
Available for faculty & staff;
Other trainings description:
Kognito Training, SOS training (similar to Campus Connect)
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Clinicians are trained to provide care to these specific groups:
Undergraduates
Graduate students
Racial/ethnic minority student
Students who are veterans
LGBTQIA+ students
Student-athletes
International students
Students on scholarship or financial aid
First-generation students
Please provide details on specific trainings:
Bringing Trauma-Informed Yoga into Mental Health Clinical Practice
Emotional and Disordered Eating: Trauma-Informed Clinical Tools to Heal Your Clients' Relationship with Food and Body
Body Image and Sexuality: Befriending the Sexual Self After Trauma
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Ethical and Legal Issues in Clinical Supervision: Essentials for Effective Supervisors
The Future of Mental Health in The Black Community
The Intersection of Ethics and Culture: Exploring Considerations and Case Studies
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Details on offerings:
A team of Wellbeing Peer Coaches supports the Wellbeing theme of Champlain’s InSight Program (a required 4-year life skills curriculum) as well as Dare to CARE campus events and resources. Wellbeing Peer Coaches collaborate with a variety of campus partners to help us build a strong culture of wellbeing on campus, encouraging effective coping strategies for managing personal and environmental stressors. Wellbeing Peer Coaches design and host events, support wellbeing events hosted by campus partners, and create concrete health promotion resources used by Housing & Residential Life and others.
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
A brief description of offerings:
Our resident advisors integrate mental health and wellness into the residential experience through educational programming and community events. Monthly bulletin boards are required to be educational and align with the monthly Dare to CARE spotlight, which focuses on wellness and wellbeing topics. Educational programs also correspond with these themes. For example, February’s theme is Physical Health Awareness, while March focuses on Mental Health Awareness.
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
Incoming transfer students
Entering graduate students
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
Yes, optional
Details of for-credit offering:
Mindcraft: the Scientific Study of Optimal Well-Being & Life Satisfaction- provides an opportunity for non-psych majors to learn about positive psychology and the importance of well-being in a hands-on, project-based manner.
The institution offers non-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
Yes, required of all students
Details of non-credit offering:
InSight & Champ 101: Students receive a four-year required co-curricular education on wellbeing, career and personal finance education. Wellbeing topics include: social connectedness, self-management, purposeful living, and work-life integration. In addition, first-year students also are required to participate in Champ101, a 10-week program designed specifically for incoming first-year students. Objectives include: connect to campus resources, people, and opportunities; examine your role in creating an inclusive Champlain community; explore how to care for your personal health and wellbeing; and learn how to navigate Champlain’s policies and procedures.
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
10 months
Campus Visits Contact
251 South Willard St/ Burlington, VT 05402
admission@champlain.edu
(802) 865-5740
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
M-F and selected Saturdays
M-F 8:30 am to 5:00 pm; Saturdays 10:30 am - 2:00
(802) 865-5740
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Yes
Visits
CLASS VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
FACULTY AND COACH VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
On Campus Interview
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
weekdays and select Saturdays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Campus Tours
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS
taxis, campus shuttle bus, Burlington city bus, buses from major cities, Burlington International Airport 15 minutes from campus.
LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Many major hotels are located within a few minutes' drive of campus, in several price ranges.
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03 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
- Computer and Information Sciences, General.
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance.
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General.
- Computer Science.
- Computer Software and Media Applications, Other.
- Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other.
15 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
- Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management, General.
- Digital Arts.
- Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
- Fine/Studio Arts, General.
- Game and Interactive Media Design.
- Music Technology.
- Visual and Performing Arts, General.
From the School
Tuition: $47,400
Student Activity + Health Fee: $575
On-Campus Room: $10,900
Full Meal Plan: $6,700
Total: $68,575
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition (Private)
$48,800
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,000
On-Campus Room and Board
$18,200
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Approximate Expenses per Year
$69,200
Dates
Notification DateDec 15
From the School
Each year, more than 95% of students receive scholarship funds that do not have to be repaid. Champlain's unique means students can count on their scholarships from Champlain never declining as long as they are enrolled full-time.
helps students understand and maximize all financial aid options available to them and the process of applying for scholarships, grants, loans, payment plans, and employment opportunities. The Financial Aid team is always available for in-person or phone appointments with students and families.
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$33,423
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$31,875
Average Need-Based Loan
$3,891
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
65%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$36,226
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$36,928
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Scholarships and Grants Available
01 - College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
04 - Private Scholarships
05 - State Scholarships/Grants
No-Need-Based
01 - Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Loans Available
02 - Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
03 - Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
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01. Overview
From the School
Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, private college overlooking Lake Champlain in charming Burlington, Vermont. Its innovative, career-focused approach to education is nationally recognized for shaping graduates who are ready for work, ready for life, and ready to make a difference.
Champlain students take classes in their major on day one through the Upside-Down Curriculum, allowing them to graduate with more professional experiences—such as internships, jobs, and fieldwork opportunities—and a deeper understanding of their industries. The results: 90% of the Class of 2023 was employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.
Champlain's small size and professional opportunities attract relentlessly inquisitive and open-minded individuals who are engaged in their community and fiercely dedicated to building the world they want to live in.
02. Rankings
Rankings and Lists
03. Admissions & Acceptance RateScroll to Top 
Admissions
From the School:
We're always on the lookout for highly motivated students ready to make an impact. You can apply for free using the Common Application or Champlain's own application. Our college also offers Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision—no test scores or essay required.
When reviewing applications, we'll request transcripts, a list of extracurricular activities, and recommendations. Test scores are optional. While GPA, class rank, and other academic records tell us a lot about your readiness for our career-focused programs, we also look for strong writing and communication skills.
Transfer applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and we offer practical pathways to make completing your degree at Champlain as easy as possible.
Applicants
3,602
Acceptance Rate
88%
Average HS GPA
3.51
Deadlines
Early Decision
November 15
GPA Breakdown
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn More
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
620 - 700
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
600 - 680
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1220 - 1300
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
26 - 29
What would you score on the digital SAT today?
Testing Policies
Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional
Other Admission Factors Academic
Academic GPA
From the School
Tuition: $47,400
Student Activity + Health Fee: $575
On-Campus Room: $10,900
Full Meal Plan: $6,700
Total: $68,575
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition (Private)
$48,800
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,000
On-Campus Room and Board
$18,200
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Approximate Expenses per Year
$69,200
Approximate Expenses per Year (In-State)
$20,400
Approximate Expenses per Year (Out-of-State)
$20,400
From the School
Champlain College is different, and that's by design. We believe that flexibility fuels discovery and that the best education is one that students actively shape. With 30 flexible credits built into every major, you'll have unprecedented freedom to carve out the skills, experiences, and work that will make you stand out in competitive fields.
Our Upside-Down Curriculum offers a deeper experience and more opportunities for internships and co-ops throughout your time here. It puts you in your major in your first semester and encourages your confidence to explore, or pivot (early!) if your interests evolve. Champlain students build genuine expertise, layer specialized knowledge, and graduate with a portfolio that demonstrates real capability.
Through community-engaged learning and our applied General Education curriculum, you'll step outside the classroom and work directly with local organizations on projects that matter. We want you to learn the same way you'll work in the real world: on teams. Our interdisciplinary approach brings together students across majors to collaborate on complex challenges—applying insights from the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences to real community needs. You won't just study problems; you'll work to solve them, developing practical skills in teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving that employers value.
At Champlain, hands-on learning isn't a supplement to your education—it's the foundation.
What students say
The students at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, are "professional" and "careerminded," and name Champlain's "career-focused curriculum" as a primary reason for choosing the college. "Networking and the emphasis on internships at Champlain lead to a great deal of job placements relevant to your chosen major after (or before!) graduation," extols one student. Students love the "small class sizes," which "allow your professors and classmates to know, contribute, and follow your success." They're also crazy about Champlain's UpsideDown Curriculum, which uniquely allows undergraduates to jump right into key classes: "I could begin major-related work on the first day." Game design, filmmaking, digital forensics, psychology, and marketing are all offered as majors, distinguishing Champlain's available courses of study to many applicants, with its "strong focus on major-specific skills, and field-applicable classwork." For the most part, students say the professors are "engaging, encouraging, and interesting" and "do all they can to help students understand the material and reach their full potential." Champlain works hard to produce graduates who know "how to survive and thrive in the business world" and "reach their highest level of satisfaction." Champlain is a "career-focused school that gives students the tools to succeed in the professional world." This career-conscious education is animated by Champlain's "engaging, encouraging, and interesting" professors, who "know your name," are "enthusiastic about the students' education," and "come from extremely professional backgrounds and add personal touches to their discussions that make students want to participate." In addition to academic curricula, Champlain's InSight program "readies students for outside life," teaching life skills such as "financial sophistication" and fostering a "strong sense of community." For those interested in the burgeoning gaming industry, "Champlain's game [majors are] also rigorous and unique, bringing students from amateurs to developing a game in a seemingly short four years." Champlain's greatest academic strength lies in "excellent professors, innovative classes," and an "inviting small-classroom environment."
Student : Faculty
11.7 : 1
Total Faculty
212
Terminal Degree
73
Gender to Class Inforamtion
Class/Lab sizes
Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19
Rating
Graduation Rates
University Degrees
Associate
Bachelor's
Certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Majors and Degrees Offered
ANIMATION (BFA)
APPLIED MATHEMATICS (BS)
APPLIED SUSTAINABILITY (BS)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BS)
COMPUTER NETWORKING & CYBERSECURITY (BS)
COMPUTER SCIENCE & INNOVATION (BS)
CREATIVE MEDIA (BFA)
CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE (BS)
DEGREE DESIGN LAB/INTEGRATIVE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (BS)
DIGITAL FORENSICS (BS)
DIGITAL HUMANITIES (BS)
DEGREE DESIGN LAB: INTEGRATIVE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (BS)
EDUCATION (BS)
FILMMAKING (BFA)
GAME ART (BFA)
GAME BUSINESS & PUBLISHING (BS)
GAME DESIGN (BS)
GAME PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT (BS)
GAME PROGRAMMING (BS)
GAME SOUND DESIGN (BS)
GRAPHIC DESIGN & VISUAL COMMUNICATION (BFA)
INTERACTION DESIGN (BS)
INTERACTIVE NARRATIVE FOR GAMES & DIGITAL MEDIA (BS)
MARKETING (BS)
MARKETING COMMUNICATION (BS)
PSYCHOLOGY (BS)
SOCIAL WORK (BSW)
WRITING & PUBLISHING (BS)
.
From The School
At Champlain, our students are creative, innovative thinkers who learn by doing. They're here because they have ideas—big ones—about technology, design, storytelling, and solving problems that actually matter. They're passionate. Ambitious. Ready to do real work, not just talk about it someday.
Our campus culture reflects that energy. With 50+ student-run clubs—from e-sports tournaments and film production collectives to hiking expeditions and social justice initiatives—you'll find your people here. (The deeply discounted season passes to Sugarbush ski resort don't hurt, either.)
It's not uncommon for our students to feel seen, welcomed, and at home from the moment they step foot on campus. Maybe it's something in the waters of Lake Champlain that makes our community so kind, quirky, and caring, but we like to think our students are genuinely just themselves here.
What students say:
Champlain's student population is summed up by one as "Champlain attracts a certain type: open, artistic, thoughtful, and intelligent," while another student is a little more blunt: "We are all nerdy in our own special way." It's a self-selective, "open-minded" population that's passionately adored by those who know what to expect: students "fit in well if they have researched the college before coming, as it is a small community within a larger community." There is "literally a bit of everything. Nerds, partiers, skiers, snowboarders, skateboarders, and hippies." Another summarizes the Champlain student body as "everyone is incredibly friendly and supportive. I love that it's large enough not to know everyone but small enough that it still feels like family." As a whole, Champlain students are "motivated and engaged." They enjoy the social opportunities afforded by Burlington and Champlain, but "are also serious about doing big things and going far in life."
Gender
37% female63% male
Out of State
77% are out
of state23% are
in-state
Students
95% are
full time5% are
part time
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,691
Foreign Countries Represented
8
Student Body Demographics
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.18%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
0.06%
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Available for faculty & staff;
Other:
Available for all students;
Available for faculty & staff;
Other trainings description:
Kognito Training, SOS training (similar to Campus Connect)
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Clinicians are trained to provide care to these specific groups:
Undergraduates
Graduate students
Racial/ethnic minority student
Students who are veterans
LGBTQIA+ students
Student-athletes
International students
Students on scholarship or financial aid
First-generation students
Please provide details on specific trainings:
Bringing Trauma-Informed Yoga into Mental Health Clinical Practice
Emotional and Disordered Eating: Trauma-Informed Clinical Tools to Heal Your Clients' Relationship with Food and Body
Body Image and Sexuality: Befriending the Sexual Self After Trauma
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Ethical and Legal Issues in Clinical Supervision: Essentials for Effective Supervisors
The Future of Mental Health in The Black Community
The Intersection of Ethics and Culture: Exploring Considerations and Case Studies
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Details on offerings:
A team of Wellbeing Peer Coaches supports the Wellbeing theme of Champlain’s InSight Program (a required 4-year life skills curriculum) as well as Dare to CARE campus events and resources. Wellbeing Peer Coaches collaborate with a variety of campus partners to help us build a strong culture of wellbeing on campus, encouraging effective coping strategies for managing personal and environmental stressors. Wellbeing Peer Coaches design and host events, support wellbeing events hosted by campus partners, and create concrete health promotion resources used by Housing & Residential Life and others.
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
A brief description of offerings:
Our resident advisors integrate mental health and wellness into the residential experience through educational programming and community events. Monthly bulletin boards are required to be educational and align with the monthly Dare to CARE spotlight, which focuses on wellness and wellbeing topics. Educational programs also correspond with these themes. For example, February’s theme is Physical Health Awareness, while March focuses on Mental Health Awareness.
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
Incoming transfer students
else
{
}
Entering graduate students
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
Yes, optional
Details of for-credit offering:
Mindcraft: the Scientific Study of Optimal Well-Being & Life Satisfaction- provides an opportunity for non-psych majors to learn about positive psychology and the importance of well-being in a hands-on, project-based manner.
The institution offers non-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
Yes, required of all students
Details of non-credit offering:
InSight & Champ 101: Students receive a four-year required co-curricular education on wellbeing, career and personal finance education. Wellbeing topics include: social connectedness, self-management, purposeful living, and work-life integration. In addition, first-year students also are required to participate in Champ101, a 10-week program designed specifically for incoming first-year students. Objectives include: connect to campus resources, people, and opportunities; examine your role in creating an inclusive Champlain community; explore how to care for your personal health and wellbeing; and learn how to navigate Champlain’s policies and procedures.
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
10 months
Location
Picture this: you're living in a beautifully restored Victorian-era mansion on a hilltop with stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. That's your everyday reality at Champlain. Our 27-acre campus in Burlington's Hill Section puts you minutes from downtown—think local coffee shops, live music, food spots, and outdoor adventures—while giving you a home base that's equal parts historic charm and modern comfort.
With state-of-the-art facilities, small class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, and hands-on learning spaces designed to mirror real professional environments, you'll have everything you need to start building the world you want to live in, with a community you can count on for life.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
At Champlain, hands-on learning happens through our cutting-edge facilities across campus. We immerse our students in agency-like settings where they consult, problem-solve, and design solutions for real clients facing challenges in social justice, cybersecurity, business, and media.
The Leahy Center for Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity connects undergrads with hands-on experience in real investigations and threat mitigation. As designated a National Center of Digital Forensics Excellence by the U.S. Department of Defense and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA, we're leaders in safeguarding the future.
Our esports arena at the Miller Center Lakeside campus is designed for competition, content creation, live broadcasting, and community. You can cheer on one of our varsity teams, jump into high-level or recreational play, and connect with other students. Whether you're grinding ranked matches or just hanging out between classes, the facility is open to all Champlain students, so grab a controller and stay awhile.
Champlain students also have access to multiple makerspaces, including the Generator Makerspace, where they work alongside Burlington's artists, designers, and makers using laser cutters, 3D printers, and industry-standard software.
At the heart of Champlain's creative programming is the Center for Communication & Creative Media. This 75,000-square-foot facility houses game and graphic design labs, a production stage, sound studios, and art galleries, all designed for multidisciplinary collaboration.
The IDX Student Life Center houses our main dining hall, Wellness & Fitness Center, and Argosy Gymnasium, with views of the lake and mountains.
The Miller Information Commons stands out as a premier library facility, offering extensive print and digital collections but also advanced technologies to support research and study. A popular study spot for students, this library facility also provides some of the most breathtaking views in Burlington.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Burlington isn't just where you'll go to school—it's where you'll launch your career. Thanks to strong local partnerships, Champlain students are the interns of choice at companies like Ben & Jerry's, Burton Snowboards, Seventh Generation, Keurig Dr Pepper, and KPMG. You'll find opportunities everywhere, from tech startups to nonprofits or even the Department of Homeland Security.
Consistently ranked as a top college town, Burlington delivers small-town charm with big-city energy: live music venues, farm-to-table restaurants, local shops, and outdoor adventures right outside your door. Between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, you'll have year-round access to hiking, biking, paddleboarding, skiing, and snowboarding. Vermont is your playground.
As an innovation hub and home to environmentally conscious companies like Beta Technologies and OnLogic, Burlington's entrepreneurial scene gives you the perfect environment to network, land meaningful internships, or even launch your own startup. Here, your classroom extends far beyond campus.
What students say:
The small liberal arts college in cozy Burlington, Vermont, has a heavy academic focus on the video game industry, and skiing and gaming figure prominently into Champlain's social life. "There is a lot to do in town, and on campus there are often events put on by clubs or the SGA [Student Government Association]. Every Thursday, a bus also takes students from campus to free bowling or to see a free movie at the movie theater." Students love Burlington"full of endless opportunities for both outside and indoor activities"-and enjoy the shops and nightlife of Church Street. Both Champlain and Burlington "heavily promote sustainable living," and as such, students learn "an incredible amount about how to help and be aware of my community and ecosystem." For the dedicated skier/student, Champlain IDs will nab you discounted ski passes in the area, and "snow dictates class attendance in the spring." Overall, the outdoorsy will find plenty to love about Champlain and the mantra seems to be, "Anything to be outside." Indoors, the "laid-back" social atmosphere tends toward "play[ing] video games rather often," and "there is an excellent music scene here in Burlington."
Undergraduates living on campus
82%
First-Year students living on campus
93%
Campus Environment
Suburban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
Most Popular Places On Campus
Sr. Leahy Center for Digital Forenics
Center for Communication and Creative Media
Miller Information Commons
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Church Street Marketplace
Muddy Waters coffee house
Campus Visits Contact
251 South Willard St/ Burlington, VT 05402
admission@champlain.edu
(802) 865-5740
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
M-F and selected Saturdays
M-F 8:30 am to 5:00 pm; Saturdays 10:30 am - 2:00
(802) 865-5740
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Yes
Visits
CLASS VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
FACULTY AND COACH VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
On Campus Interview
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
weekdays and select Saturdays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Campus Tours
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS
taxis, campus shuttle bus, Burlington city bus, buses from major cities, Burlington International Airport 15 minutes from campus.
LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Many major hotels are located within a few minutes' drive of campus, in several price ranges.
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Campus Housing Options
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
50
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
0
Sustainability
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% Food Budget Spent On Sustainably Or Ethically Produced Food
4%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Bicycle or Scooter Sharing
Car Sharing Or Carpooling
Program Designed To Incentivize The Use Of Public Transportation
CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit 91³Ô¹Ï's page
on campus safety for additional resources:
Visit Page
91³Ô¹Ï publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available.
Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security
Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education:
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Fee for Network Use
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Dates
Notification DateDec 15
From the School
Each year, more than 95% of students receive scholarship funds that do not have to be repaid. Champlain's unique means students can count on their scholarships from Champlain never declining as long as they are enrolled full-time.
helps students understand and maximize all financial aid options available to them and the process of applying for scholarships, grants, loans, payment plans, and employment opportunities. The Financial Aid team is always available for in-person or phone appointments with students and families.
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$33,423
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$31,875
Average Need-Based Loan
$3,891
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
65%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$36,226
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$36,928
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Scholarships and Grants Available
01 - College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
04 - Private Scholarships
05 - State Scholarships/Grants
No-Need-Based
01 - Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Loans Available
02 - Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
03 - Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
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15 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
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