Vermont Graphic Design Schools: Most Expensive to Least Expensive

According to the most recent Institute of Education Sciences (IES) report (July 2012), the State of Vermont is home to 24 Title IV degree-granting institutions. The Green Mountain State is one of 20 states with less than 50 colleges. While Vermont’s collection of colleges is among the smallest in the U.S., the state is big on quality when it comes to education. This is why all of the state’s 24 listed schools are Title IV, and many have received high marks with organizations such as Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes.

The U.S. Department of Education doesn’t make it easy to obtain Title IV status. To become a Title IV school, the institution must meet five requirements established by the Department. The school must (1) sign a participation agreement with the Department, (2) grant an associate's degree or higher, (3) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length, (4) be in business for at least 2 years, and (5) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

A quality education isn’t cheap, but because Vermont’s best schools have Title IV status, they are eligible for financial aid programs. This means, even the most expensive schools are accessible to students with financial need. Continue reading to find out which Vermont schools are tops for aspiring graphic designers and what you can expect to pay. Please note that in-state tuition is typically lower than out-of-state tuition. In many cases, all it takes is one year of documented residency and the intent to remain in the state to become eligible for resident tuition rates.

Most Expensive Vermont Graphic Design Schools

Champlain College, Burlington – Tuition Information: Undergraduate $29,765, graduate $23,256 for the 2012 – 2013 school year.

Burlington College, Burlington - Tuition Information: Undergraduate $22,410 for the 2012 – 2013 school year

Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA), Montpelier - Tuition Information: Graduate $19,136 for the 2012 – 2013 school year. Tuition does not include fees of $1,156 per year.

Least Expensive Vermont Graphic Design Schools

Castleton State College, Castleton – Tuition Information: Undergraduate residents $8,928, nonresidents $21,528 for the 2012 – 2013 school year. Tuition does not include fees of $936 per year.

Vermont Graphic Design Scene

Vermont is home to 5,280 salaried artists and designers. According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 27, 2012), 500 are graphic designers. These talented individuals average $41,990 per year, up from $35,050 in 2002. Any given graphic designer may make more or less than the average based on education, experience, seniority, company, location, field, and more. Popular fields for Vermont graphic designers include advertising, public relations, publishing, web design, printing, production, technology, and education.

Just a few employment options for graphic designers include KSV (Burlington, Boston, New York), Shark Communications (Burlington), hmc2 Agency (Richmond), Spike Advertising (Burlington), Lincoln Brown Illustration (Burlington), Fiction Media Group (Vermont, Washington D.C., New York), Subatomic Digital (Williston), Dreamlike Pictures (Burlington) Mt. Mansfield Media (Colchester), Shadow Productions (Burlington), and Cavallaro Films (East Arlington).

Vermont is home to 626,431 residents, Nearly 100,00 live in major cities such as Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier. Some of the best job opportunities can be found in these major cities, as well the most active art and culture scenes. For example, the Vermont Film Commission is located in Montpelier and the popular Fleming Museum of the University of Vermont is located in Burlington. A number of other creative companies such as Lincoln Brown Illustration, Dreamlike Pictures, and Shadow Productions are located in Burlington.