Green Mountain College is a coeducational, private, liberal arts college founded in 1834. Our close-knit community of 900 students lives and learns on one of the most beautiful campuses in New England. We're a small school with a big mission—preparing you for a productive career and a fulfilling life through a liberal arts education that emphasizes environmental responsibility. At GMC you'll have a choice of 21 major programs, and you'll be part of a diverse student body representing 33 states and 27 foreign countries.
The "Green" Advantage
Colleges and universities are leading the way when it comes to cleaning up the planet. Green Mountain College has been in the vanguard of change since 1995. We have a recycling crew; we compost dining hall waste; we're constantly looking for ways to conserve energy. But we take our commitment further. GMC is different from most colleges because we infuse environmental awareness into every aspect of a liberal arts education. We call it the Environmental Liberal Arts Curriculum. It's field-based, interdisciplinary and service-oriented, and it produces engaged citizens ready to tackle complicated, multi-faceted issues. You'll learn how to analyze problems from multiple perspectives by engaging in the world, asking questions, and making intellectual connections.
Right at Home Good conversation takes practice. It also creates better, smarter people. That's why we keep our student body small and our campus intimate. It's also why, for example, when you sit down at our dining hall's historic roundtables, there's no telling what conversation you'll be swept into. We think that's exactly what college should be—a place where students are constantly having conversations that change their minds, and will eventually help change the world. A small campus also allows ample opportunity for students to step into leadership roles. Many of our students have done incredible things—from starting a campus Free Store, to constructing a bouldering cave, to founding an intercultural center, the list is long and varied. You might be surprised to find yourself wearing many hats!
In the Middle of it All
Poultney has a lot of the best in small-town rural living—a beautiful lake, hiking trails, two great diners, a cozy pub, a library, a hardware store where the owners will learn your name, and lots of beautiful historic houses and churches. But no matter how much we love Poultney, we all get the urge to get away—to find a mall, go skiing, or go to some great clubs. Fortunately, that's all within an easy drive of campus. Killington's world-class ski resort is about 40 minutes away (and you can get a great discount as a student). The Adirondack Mountains in New York State offer limitless opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking and more. Great shopping towns like Burlington and Middlebury, Vt., and Queensbury, N.Y., are less than an hour and a half away. When you need a big city, Boston, New York, and Montreal are all within reach by car, bus, or train.
A Great Value
We know that paying for college is a bigger concern than ever before. You want to be sure your degree leads to a promising career without the burden of a large debt after graduation. That's why we've kept tuition costs as low as possible, and structured financial aid awards to help make a Green Mountain College education affordable. In 2007-08, the average American undergraduate received $8,896 in financial aid—of this amount $4,656 was grant money. GMC's average grant for aided incoming freshman was $11,262—more than double the national average. Increases in institutional aid planned for 2009-10 will more than offset increases in the cost of attendance. Our faculty and advising staff are also committed to help you plan your academic program to ensure graduation within four years.
What Next?
First of all, we're excited that you're considering GMC and we invite you to do some more exploring on this site—here you'll meet some of our students and faculty and learn about student life on campus. We think you'll be impressed. Of course the best way to really get to know us is to schedule a campus visit.
