Since 2013, thousands of high school seniors have earned college credits via Vermont’s Early College Program, part of the Flexible Pathways Initiative within the state Agency of Education. The Early College Program makes it possible for high school seniors to earn college credit tuition-free at the same time they complete their final year of high school and earn their high school diploma. A record 377 high school seniors from every county in Vermont enrolled in Early College Programs at VSCS institutions, Community College of Vermont (CCV) and Vermont State University (VTSU), in Fall 2024, according to a recent VTSU news release.
“This marks the largest number of students participating in the Early College Program to date,” noted Beth Mauch, chancellor of the VSCS. “It’s really incredible that these students will graduate from high school this spring with a year of college already completed and with the tuition cost of that year covered by the state’s Flexible Pathways Initiative. Affordability is top-of-mind for many Vermont families and is a key strategic priority across the Vermont State Colleges System. Everyone benefits when we lower the overall cost of a college degree and open new and exciting opportunities for our students.”
Faith Holbrook of Essex was able to graduate from CCV with her associates degree one year after graduating from high school. In addition completing her year of Early College, Faith enrolled in Vermont’s Free Degree Promise program, a J.Warren & Lois McClure Foundation and CCV partnership that provides Early College Program participants in all Vermont high school classes of 2023-2026 with a second year at CCV tuition-and-fee-free, a stipend for books, transportation and other expenses, and enhanced advising support. “I got to finish my associate degree at no cost. It is a gift that has changed my adult life,” she said.
Of last year’s Early College Program participants at VSCS institutions, 81% went on to enroll in a second year of postsecondary education, and 41% more first-generation students continued their education after Early College in the 2023-2024 cohort as compared to the 2022-2023 cohort.
Chancellor Mauch added, “the continuation rates for Early College program participants after high school far exceed Vermont’s statewide continuation rates. It’s a means-tested approach to addressing the attainment gap. A post-secondary degree or credential is increasingly important to securing a good-paying job and ultimately that economic advancement and ability to contribute meaningfully to their community is what we want for all of our graduates.”
Malia Findley, who grew up in Springfield, Vermont, shared, “I knew I wanted to get into the Dental Hygiene program at VTSU, so enrolling in the Early College program really helped me prepare. I did my Early College year at the Randolph campus while living at home, then went to Williston for the Dental Hygiene program after I got my high school diploma.”
