About Goddard College
Students at Goddard College create their own degree programs without traditional grades or course requirements. This progressive liberal arts institution enrolls just 113 students in rural Vermont, fostering an intensely individualized approach to higher education. The school has produced notable creative voices including playwright David Mamet and performance artist Spalding Gray. With an 85.71% acceptance rate, Goddard attracts students seeking alternatives to conventional academic structures.
The financial picture presents challenges for graduates. Students pay an average net price of $30,152, but median earnings ten years after graduation reach only $25,552. Graduates typically carry $18,750 in debt with monthly payments of $199. The 56.11% loan repayment rate suggests many struggle to manage their educational investment. Only 52.68% of students receive financial aid, and just 3.54% receive institutional grants averaging $10,002.
The student body skews heavily female at 67.26% and maintains remarkable cohesion with a 100% retention rate. The 7:1 student-faculty ratio enables deeply personalized mentorship that defines the Goddard experience. With 75% of students graduating within six years, the college succeeds at helping committed learners complete their self-designed educational journeys despite the unconventional structure.
The financial picture presents challenges for graduates. Students pay an average net price of $30,152, but median earnings ten years after graduation reach only $25,552. Graduates typically carry $18,750 in debt with monthly payments of $199. The 56.11% loan repayment rate suggests many struggle to manage their educational investment. Only 52.68% of students receive financial aid, and just 3.54% receive institutional grants averaging $10,002.
The student body skews heavily female at 67.26% and maintains remarkable cohesion with a 100% retention rate. The 7:1 student-faculty ratio enables deeply personalized mentorship that defines the Goddard experience. With 75% of students graduating within six years, the college succeeds at helping committed learners complete their self-designed educational journeys despite the unconventional structure.
Academics & Faculty
Goddard College operates as a progressive liberal arts institution where students design their own degree programs without traditional grades or course requirements. The 7:1 student-faculty ratio means intensive mentorship in this self-directed learning model. Students work closely with faculty advisors to create individualized study plans that might combine theater, writing, social justice, and environmental studies. The college's 75% six-year graduation rate reflects the challenges of this unstructured approach. Notable graduates include playwright David Mamet and performance artist Spalding Gray, both products of Goddard's emphasis on creative expression and experimental education. This isn't traditional college, it's designed for self-motivated learners who thrive without conventional academic boundaries.
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Full-Time Faculty
- 35.0%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 75.0%
- Retention Rate
- 100.0%
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $25,552
- Carnegie Classification
- Master's University (Small)
Popular Programs by Earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $44,942 |
| Education, General. | Bachelor | $41,193 |
| Education, General. | Master | $39,741 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Master | $38,127 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other. | Master | $35,060 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Master | $30,771 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Bachelor | $24,035 |
Campus Life
Goddard's 113 students live on a 200-acre working farm in rural Vermont, about 40 minutes from Montpelier. With housing capacity for 120 students, nearly everyone lives on campus in converted farmhouses and cabins scattered across the property. Students wake up to feed chickens and milk goats before heading to seminars that feel more like living room discussions.
The 7:1 student-faculty ratio means you'll know your professors personally and design your own curriculum around your passions. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, so pack serious winter gear for the long Vermont winters. Students gather around wood stoves for evening discussions about everything from anarchist theory to sustainable agriculture. Weekends often involve maple syrup making, contra dancing, or hiking in the Green Mountains. The progressive atmosphere attracts creative types who thrive without traditional grades or requirements. With 67% women and a strong arts focus, the campus buzzes with poetry readings, experimental theater, and collaborative projects that blur the lines between academic work and artistic expression.
The 7:1 student-faculty ratio means you'll know your professors personally and design your own curriculum around your passions. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, so pack serious winter gear for the long Vermont winters. Students gather around wood stoves for evening discussions about everything from anarchist theory to sustainable agriculture. Weekends often involve maple syrup making, contra dancing, or hiking in the Green Mountains. The progressive atmosphere attracts creative types who thrive without traditional grades or requirements. With 67% women and a strong arts focus, the campus buzzes with poetry readings, experimental theater, and collaborative projects that blur the lines between academic work and artistic expression.
- Setting
- Rural-Distant
- Housing Capacity
- 120 beds
- Calendar System
- Semester
- Founded
- 1938
Climate & Weather
- January Avg
- 4°–26°F
- July Avg
- 54°–81°F
- Annual Precipitation
- 40.9"
- Annual Snowfall
- 0.0"
Student Demographics
Students come from across the country to pursue Goddard's radical approach to education, with over 94% arriving from out-of-state. More than half receive Pell Grants, reflecting the college's commitment to making progressive education accessible to working-class families. Women make up about two-thirds of the student body, drawn to Goddard's emphasis on creative expression and social justice. The diverse mix of students shares a common desire to escape traditional academic constraints. These independent learners thrive in an environment where they design their own curriculum and pursue unconventional paths to knowledge.
- Men
- 32.7%
- Women
- 67.3%
- White
- 59.3%
- Black
- 8.0%
- Hispanic
- 3.5%
- Asian
- 0.0%
- In-State Students
- 5.6%
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 52.7%
Location
Goddard College sits in Plainfield, Vermont, about 20 miles from Montpelier, the state capital. Only 113 students attend this rural campus in central Vermont's rolling hills. The college draws just 5.56% of its students from in-state, meaning most come from outside Vermont's small population. Plainfield itself has fewer than 1,400 residents and offers the quintessential New England small-town experience. The campus sits on 200 acres of farmland and forest, embodying Vermont's commitment to environmental consciousness and alternative living. Students here embrace the state's progressive values and outdoor culture. Students considering colleges in Vermont may also compare Goddard College with similar schools in the region.
- Address
- Plainfield, Vermont 05667-9432
After College
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $25,552
- Median Earnings (5 years)
- $37,338
- Mean Earnings (6 years after entry)
- $29,100
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 56.1%
- Monthly Loan Payment
- $199/mo
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $18,750
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Goddard College?
Goddard College accepts 85.71% of applicants. This progressive Vermont institution focuses more on fit than traditional academic metrics when evaluating prospective students.
How much does Goddard College cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Goddard College is $30,152 annually. Despite the high sticker price, 52.68% of students receive financial aid to help offset costs at this small liberal arts college.
What makes academics unique at Goddard College?
Goddard College operates with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio and allows students to design their own degree programs without traditional grades or requirements. This individualized approach attracts creative students seeking alternatives to conventional college structures.
What do graduates of Goddard College earn after graduation?
Goddard College graduates earn a median of $25,552 ten years after graduation. The school's focus on creative and progressive fields often leads to careers in arts, social work, and education rather than high-paying corporate positions.
How small is the campus at Goddard College?
Goddard College enrolls just 113 students with housing capacity for 120. This tiny size creates an intimate learning environment where every student knows their classmates and professors personally.
Does Goddard College have a strong alumni network in the arts?
Goddard College has produced notable creative alumni including playwright David Mamet and performance artist Spalding Gray. The college's self-designed curriculum and progressive philosophy have long attracted students pursuing unconventional artistic careers.
Similar Schools
Sterling College
Craftsbury Common, Vermont
Beth Hamedrash Shaarei Yosher Institute
Brooklyn, New York
Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Boruch
North Plainfield, New Jersey
Cleveland University-Kansas City
Overland Park, Kansas
Providence Christian College
Pasadena, California
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit
Oak Park, Michigan