The University of Vermont fared well in two recently released college rankings. CNN Money ranked it 22nd among public colleges for its four-year graduation rate and USA Today rated it one of the ten best schools for students interested in the health professions. Graduating within four years, CNN Money says, is key to keeping the cost of college down. While only one-third of public college students earn their degrees in four years, 65 percent of UVM students graduate in that timeframe.
UVM has made graduating in four years one of its top strategic goals. University president Tom Sullivan gave it strong emphasis in the strategic plan he released in 2012. The university also encourages students to fill out a Four Year Plan for Career Success, a set of guidelines students review with their advisers as they make their way from first to senior year. The plan is designed to help students achieve success post-graduation. Its checklist format also keeps them focused on the semester-by-semester actions needed to graduate on time.
Ira Allen Chapel photo by Sally McCay/UVM.
The University of Vermont earned its #8 rank among USA Today’s “10 Best Colleges to Study Health Professions” for the number of quality majors it offers in the field, for small class sizes and collaborative learning with professors and for graduates’ high salaries following graduation and at the mid-career level.
USA Today praised UVM for the many quality majors offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The article also drew attention to the emphasis the college gives to research and patient care. Students split their time between traditional classrooms and a variety of healthcare settings where they can apply their knowledge in a hands-on environment.
The ranking also drew attention to UVM’s College of Medicine, highlighting its longstanding programs and comprehensive curriculum.
Based on data provided by Payscale.com, UVM graduates entering the health profession will earn an average early career salary of $48,000, rising to $67,000 at the mid-career level.
UVM students are admitted to medical school at a rate 10 percentage points above the national average.
Source: UVM 3.30.2015