Middlebury College

Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in New England and was the first operating college in Vermont. The college offers undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and it also oversees graduate programs such as the Bread Loaf School of English and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Middlebury College is widely known for its language programs and international focus, including immersive summer language schools. Its rural campus in the Champlain Valley attracts students seeking a residential liberal arts education with strong emphasis on global engagement and close faculty interaction.

Middlebury College was founded in 1800 in Middlebury, Vermont, becoming the first operating college in the state. Jeremiah Atwater served as its first president and began classes shortly after the charter was granted. In its early decades, Middlebury College focused on classical education rooted in the liberal arts tradition. In 1883, the trustees voted to admit women, making Middlebury College one of the first formerly all-male liberal arts colleges in New England to become coeducational. During the twentieth century, the institution expanded its academic offerings and strengthened its emphasis on languages and international studies. The Bread Loaf School of English, established in 1920, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies, founded in 1955 and later integrated into Middlebury, broadened its graduate presence. Today, Middlebury College continues to operate as a residential liberal arts institution with global academic programs.