Champlain College
Champlain College is a small college located in Burlington Vermont. The school is widely known for its focus on career readiness, interdisciplinary curriculum and hands-on approach to learning. Burlington, home to University of Vermont, St. Michael’s College and Champlain College, is a vibrant college town. Approximately one quarter of the city’s residents are students, and there is always something to do.
Champlain’s “Upside Down Curriculum” allows first-year students to begin taking classes in their field of study, which means many of them will feel ready to start internships after their first year. It’s still an option to explore rather than declare a major right away, and every student will work with an academic advisor to choose their courses. Over four years, students improve their critical thinking and collaborative skills by engaging in discussions, projects and experiential learning. The Champlain InSight Program helps students to ensure career and professional success after graduation in the areas of wellbeing, personal finance and career positioning.
Students apply to Champlain using the Common Application, and approximately 80% are admitted each year. Admission is test-optional. Champlain has about 1700 undergraduate students on campus and another 1000 online. Not surprisingly, classes are small; most have less than twenty students. The most popular majors are Game Design/Programming, Business, Cyber Computer Forensics & Counterterrorism, Computer Programming and HR Management. The school also has satellite campuses in Dublin, Ireland and Montreal, Canada.
In Burlington, students live in one of 21 restored Victorian mansions that surround the campus or in traditional residential halls. Approximately 80% of students live on campus all four years. There is one campus dining hall that emphasizes local, healthy foods and sustainable practices.
Champlain students describe their peers as “geeks and gamers”. The only varsity sports team is Esports. However, about a third of students participate in intramural sports ranging from hockey to rugby and dodgeball to snowboarding. There are over sixty student clubs and organizations focused on academics, entertainment and arts, and more. On the weekends, students venture into downtown Burlington taking advantage of local food and culture, and the larger University of Vermont campus is in walking-distance. There are also countless opportunities for outdoor adventures in Vermont.
Who would thrive at Champlain College?
Students interested in business and computer/cyber-related majors who want a mostly residential campus in an artsy city will love Champlain. They’ll have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in Vermont and can visit games and events at nearby UVM, which is a much larger school.
Fun Facts:
The school’s mascot is Chauncey T. Beaver
The college had had six name changes by the time Champlain College became official in 1958
The college has admitted male and female students since its founding in 1878
In the 1990s, Champlain began to focus on four-year degrees and introduced their unique Upside-Down Curriculum. They offer masters degrees now too.
Champlain is generous with financial aid, often offering at least some financial support to nearly all first-year students.
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