Each fall, Vermont's population swells with the arrival of students attending one of its numerous colleges and universities. Given that the 2009 U.S. Census Bureau report estimated the population of the entire state at just over 620,000 (significantly less than some major American cities), and only 30 percent of these are actually Vermont residents, this temporary population increase is significant, especially when considering that many of these colleges are clustered in small towns such as Burlington.
Higher education has long been a part of Vermont's rich heritage, and many of the state's colleges are steeped in history. Two of the state's colleges, in fact, were founded back in the 1700s, including Castleton State College, which welcomed its first student back in 1787. Several other Vermont colleges date back to the 1800s, including Middlebury College (founded in 1800), Green Mountain College (founded in 1834) and Norwich University (founded in 1817).
According to the Vermont Consortium of Colleges, students who attend college in Vermont come from every state (including the District of Columbia) and from more than 100 different countries. As a result, those choosing to attend college in Vermont are met with myriad choices, ranging from progressive to traditional. Bennington College, for example, is a renowned liberal arts college, while Goddard promotes its "creative educational experimentation." Conversely, Landmark College stresses a rigorous curriculum and small class sizes. In terms of size, Vermont colleges run the gamut, with student bodies ranging in size from 100 to 10,000.
Students seeking a more focused post-secondary education will find many varying choices in Vermont. Vermont colleges include a medical school, Vermont Law School, colleges that specialize in international and language education, the oldest private military college in the United States (Norwich University) and New England Culinary Institute, a nationally recognized training ground for some of the country's finest chefs. Vermont Technical College, with a history dating back to 1886, offers more than 20 different bachelor's and associate's degree programs.