The University of Vermont combines elements of a private and public institution. It was founded in 1791 and is the fifth oldest university in New England (after Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, and Brown).

UVM is composed of seven undergraduate colleges and schools: the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Social Services, the College of Engineering and Mathematics, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the School of Business Administration, and the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

In addition, there are the Graduate College and the College of Medicine. The Graduate College offers 52 different master's programs of study and 22 doctoral programs. During the 2007-08 academic year, 361 master's and 84 doctoral degrees were awarded, and enrolls approximately 1,290 students, with about 468 of these pursuing the doctorate.

Approximately 35% of the 9,454 undergraduate students are Vermont residents. The rest are drawn from throughout the United States and around the world.