Northern Vermont University vs Colby-Sawyer College

Northern Vermont University (NVU) and Colby-Sawyer College are two distinct institutions of higher learning that offer unique educational experiences. NVU, with its two campuses in Johnson and Lyndon, is a public university with a larger student body and a wider range of academic programs, including graduate degrees. Colby-Sawyer, a private liberal arts college located in New London, New Hampshire, offers a more intimate learning environment with a focus on undergraduate education. While both institutions boast strong academic reputations, NVU has a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, while Colby-Sawyer has a higher graduation rate and a more selective admissions process. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Colby-Sawyer College logo

Colby-Sawyer College

Northern Vermont University logo

Northern Vermont University

Overview

Location New London, New Hampshire Johnson, Vermont
Campus setting Rural: Distant Rural: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 68.0% 57.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 93.1% 75.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 1,847 3,954
Total number of admissions given out 1,719 2,981
Admitted students who chose to enroll 256 263
Yield rate 14.9% 8.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $63,334
In state: $27,598

Out of state: $41,686
Average net price $26,781 $17,086
Tuition $45,454
In state: $11,592

Out of state: $25,680
Room & board $15,891
Room/dormitory: $7,312

Meal plan: $4,732
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $36,396
98.0%
Average amount $10,938
Students receiving federal student loan 82.0%
Average amount $5,277
70.0%
Average amount $4,880
Students taking out private loans 18.0%
Average amount $15,243
20.0%
Average amount $11,045

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 788
Men 28.3% Women 71.7%
1,495
Men 38.5% Women 61.5%
Graduate students 50
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
251
Men 23.9% Women 76.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 56.7% 47.7%
International students 1.7% 1.0%
Campus local/setting Rural: Distant Rural: Distant
Dormitory capacity 936 1,350
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Maine Connecticut Vermont Connecticut New Hampshire New York California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 64.6% 38.4%
Dropout rate 34.7% 24.0%
Transferred out N/A 35.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,248
  • Year 2: $65,796
  • Year 3: $71,380
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,434
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $53,695
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $50,493
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,766
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $46,683
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,608
  • Year 2: $33,138
  • Year 3: $45,789
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,758
  • Year 2: $32,391
  • Year 3: $39,525
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,433
  • Year 2: $28,055
  • Year 3: $38,422
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,887
  • Year 2: $31,495
  • Year 3: $33,215
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,429
  • Year 2: $17,470
  • Year 3: N/A
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $48,789
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,175
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $48,043
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,585
  • Year 2: $40,821
  • Year 3: $42,668
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,519
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,618
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,022
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,578
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,619
  • Year 2: $29,250
  • Year 3: $36,764
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,456
  • Year 2: $34,244
  • Year 3: $36,088
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,897
  • Year 2: $34,793
  • Year 3: $35,525
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,435
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: $32,943
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,154
  • Year 2: $27,947
  • Year 3: $32,920

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