For the second year in a row, University of Vermont has earned the number one slot on the Princeton Review’s “Best Schools for Making an Impact” ranking. The ranking is based on student responses to a survey about community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts, and on-campus student engagement.  

“It’s clear that UVM students care deeply about making a difference in the world around them, and that they strongly believe their school offers them the opportunities and support they need to turn their passion into action,” said UVM President Marlene Tromp. “This honor reinforces the values at the heart of our world-class public university. I’m proud of the impact our students are making, both here in Vermont and beyond.”

The nation’s leading college admissions services company debuted the impact ranking in 2015, and UVM first made the list, at number three, in 2023. It hit number one the following year. Trailing behind UVM in the impact ranking this year are St. Mary’s College of Maryland, in second, and University of Michigan Ann Arbor, in third.

The impact ranking wasn’t the only nod UVM received in this year’s Princeton Review. The university was also named number 3 in “Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation,” and number 8 in “Top 50 Green Colleges.” Students reported strong support for environmental awareness and conservation efforts on campus.

“The schools that made our Top 50 Green Colleges list share superb sustainability practices, a strong foundation in sustainability education, and a healthy quality of life for students on campus,” writes the Princeton Review, which selected the winners in this category based on a combination of school-reported data and student opinion.

Many UVM students reported feeling satisfied with their financial aid, which earned the school the number 15 spot in the “Top 20 Best Schools for Financial Aid (Public Schools)” category. According to the Princeton Review, this rating is based on students’ survey responses, plus school-reported data on the percentage of students who were determined to have need and received aid, the percentage of need met for those students, and the percentage of students whose need was fully met. 

UVM was also named number 22 in the top 25 schools with the “Friendliest Students,” based on how strongly students agree that their peers are extremely friendly.

Finally, UVM made the Princeton Review’s list of Best Value Colleges, which is based on a combination of institutional and student survey data, including academic rigor, affordability, and career outcomes for graduates.