Champlain will match UVM’s in-state rate for first-year Vermont students and cap tuition and fees at $30,000 for out-of-state students
Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College today announced a new tuition commitment for incoming first-year and transfer on-campus students enrolling in Fall 2027, providing families with greater certainty about the cost of a Champlain education and reinforcing the College’s commitment to accessibility, affordability, and student success.
Incoming first-year and transfer students will have their tuition and fees, after grants and scholarships, capped at a clear, published benchmark through either the Champlain Flagship Award or Champlain Access Award. Vermont residents will be entitled to the Champlain Flagship Award, which will match their first-year tuition and fees to the University of Vermont’s 2027-2028 in-state rate. Eligible out-of-state students will receive the Champlain Access Award, capping their first-year tuition and fees at $30,000 for the 2027-2028 academic year.
The new tuition commitment reflects Champlain’s belief that students should be able to confidently pursue an education aligned with their goals without unnecessary uncertainty about cost. The initiative comes as the College continues to invest in innovative academic offerings, including its recently launched new academic model, designed to give students greater flexibility to pursue internships, co-ops, study abroad opportunities, independent projects, additional majors, and other experiences without extending their graduation timeline.
“Students and families deserve confidence and clarity when making one of the most important investments of their lives,” said Alex Hernandez, president of Champlain College. “At Champlain, we’re focused on creating as much value as possible during a student’s college experience, whether through innovative academic models, experiential learning opportunities, or career-connected experiences. This tuition commitment removes uncertainty from the process and helps students focus on what matters most: building skills, pursuing their passions, and preparing for successful futures.”
Under the program, Champlain will first apply grants and scholarships to a student’s tuition and fees. If the remaining amount exceeds the applicable benchmark, the College will provide additional institutional funding to close the gap. Award amounts are calculated during a student’s first year and remain fixed for up to four consecutive academic years, provided students remain enrolled full-time and meet renewal requirements. The awards are also protected through Champlain’s Count-On-It Financial Aid Guarantee, ensuring merit aid remains consistent throughout a student’s enrollment.
The initiative builds on Champlain’s longstanding commitment to prepare students for career success through immersive learning, industry engagement, and programs aligned with workforce needs. Through the College’s innovative academic model, students engage with their chosen fields from their first day on campus, build professional portfolios through applied learning experiences, and graduate with the skills and experiences employers seek.
Students can learn more about the Champlain Flagship Award, Champlain Access Award, eligibility requirements, and how the Tuition Commitment works here.
About Champlain College
Founded in 1878, Champlain College is an innovative college with a distinctive, career-focused approach to higher education. Champlain offers a residential undergraduate experience at its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT, as well as over 100 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates to students across fifty states. Champlain College is different by design: we believe experiential, real-world learning creates unreal opportunity for students. Our graduates are ready to advance their careers with leading employers in future-focused fields—on average, 90% of on-campus students have a successful career outcome within six months of graduation. Champlain ranks in multiple categories of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges,” is included in The Princeton Review’s 2025 list of “The Best 390 Colleges,” and earned the #9 spot in Princeton Review’s “2025 Top Schools for Game Design.” Champlain was awarded one of America’s Best Colleges by Money for combining quality and affordability.
BURLINGTON, VT (October 1, 2026) – Champlain College
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