A new federal website that allows college-bound students and families to compare important school-by-school data shows that the University of Vermont is uniquely positioned in the state.

The new U.S. Department of Education site, released last weekend and available at collegescorecard.ed.gov, shows that UVM is the only college or university in the state with an average cost for Vermont students that is below the national average -- and at the same time -- boasts higher than national average figures for graduation rate and graduate earnings.

The site shows that the average net price for in-state students who receive federal financial aid, after all other aid from UVM, state and federal sources, is $14,876 (below the $16,789 national average). The site also shows that the six-year graduation rate for full-time, first-time UVM students is 76 percent (above the 44 percent national average); and that the median earnings for UVM federal financial aid recipients 10 years after they enrolled at UVM is $44,000 (above the national median by nearly $10,000).

"We are very excited about this new federal government tracking tool," said UVM President Tom Sullivan. "It provides excellent external validation for our efforts to continue to make UVM a high-quality, affordable option with a strong focus on student success, for both graduation and earning potential after graduation."

Regarding student debt after graduation, the data show that the share of undergraduate students who borrowed federal loans to help pay for college is 47 percent at UVM, and the median debt on those federal loans is $21,894 after graduation. Ninety-three percent of UVM graduates also are actively paying down their debt, which is higher than the national average of 67 percent.

Sullivan said colleges and universities that are seriously focusing on institutional performance results should welcome the new college scorecard. "It should create new incentives for our colleges and universities to provide an affordable, high-quality education for students to succeed," Sullivan said. "That's a good thing for students and families seeking four-year higher education degrees at an affordable price that pay off in the end, and it's a good thing for state officials who need to make sure that scarce state resources are being spent wisely and producing the highest possible return on investment through objective performance measures."

UVM recently welcomed to campus its most academically talented class in the university's history. The class of 2019 was selected from more than 25,000 applicants -- a historic high. The incoming students earned an average GPA of 3.53 on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1197, a 12-point increase over last year. The new class also boasts a record 34 Green & Gold Scholars, the top students from Vermont high schools.

Moreover, a recent UVM survey found that 91 percent of graduates in the Class of 2014 were successful in finding jobs or enrolling in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.