The University of Vermont, for the first time in its history, received more than 30,000 applications for undergraduate admission, leading the university to be even more selective and setting the stage for the Class of 2026 to be the highest-achieving incoming class ever, UVM officials say.
The number of applicants to UVM also hit record levels in 2021, when the university attracted 25,500 applications, 38% more than the previous year. This year, the number of applicants jumped another 19% to 30,363.
The Class of 2026 will arrive on campus with an average SAT score of 1347, average ACT score of 31, and average GPA of 3.8. It also includes the greatest number of students who identify as students of color (72 more students, 21% higher than in 2021-2022), first-generation students (296 students, making up 9% of the class), and students who come from outside of New England (182 more students, 13% higher than in 2021-2022).
The record applicant pool also allowed the university to be even more selective in its admissions decisions. As of May 2, UVM’s admission rate is 59%, the most selective rate at the university in at least 30 years.
While official statistics about the new class will not be published until a few weeks into the fall semester, many highly sought-after attributes are represented in those who have chosen UVM this year:
50% of students will come from outside of New England. To address demographic shifts, the university has worked to diversify its applicant pool by increasing applications from outside its traditional admissions territory. 46 states will be represented. Students will come from 15 other countries. 13% will identify as students of color. 9% will be first-generation college students (i.e. neither parent/guardian has a Bachelor’s degree).