Accredited Online Colleges in Vermont (VT)

In addition to having a rich history and beautiful fall foliage, the small New England state of Vermont is a great place to go to school and start a career. Its unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country—at 5.4 percent as of March 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Vermont's largest city, Burlington, was ranked #2 in the Best College Towns survey posted by MSN Local Edition for having the best of what college towns have to offer. Children's Health Magazine also named Burlington the #1 place to raise a family.

Some of the best areas for jobs in Vermont include Burlington and the surrounding metro area, Rutland, and Montpelier, the state capitol. Burlington, where manufacturing is the largest industry, was recently named by Kiplinger's Personal Finance as one of the "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade." Rutland, Vermont's second largest city, is recognized for its downtown area, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. General Electric and Casella Waste Systems are major employers in Rutland and stone quarrying is a major industry. In Montpelier, many are employed in state government; the life and fire insurance industries are also important here, as the state capital is home to the headquarters of several insurance companies.

Agriculture, manufacturing, insurance, health care and tourism are some of the most vital industries in Vermont, contributing to its diverse economy. According to Vermont Business Magazine, some of the fastest-growing companies in 2010 included National Life Group in Montpelier; Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. in Waterbury; Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington; the University of Vermont in Burlington; and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont in Montpelier. To prepare oneself for work in these industries, students could pursue studies in business, business administration or finance to equip themselves for management careers in manufacturing or insurance; nursing or other health care fields to prepare for a career in health care; or hospitality management for a career in the tourism industry.

Vermont's higher education system primarily consists of the University of Vermont, the five colleges in the Vermont State Colleges (VSC) System and 14 private colleges. The University of Vermont, a small public research university with an enrollment of 13,568, is one of the state's best-known colleges, offering 103 bachelor's programs, 54 master's and 22 doctoral programs, according to its website. Also well-known is Champlain College, a private college with relatively few students but with excellent online and study-abroad programs. Norwich University, a private military institution, is well-known for being the birthplace of the ROTC. Middlebury College is a highly-regarded private liberal arts school with numerous schools abroad.