Marlboro College is an intentionally small, intellectually demanding liberal arts school located in southern Vermont. Home to 300 students, Marlboro empowers students with the freedom and responsibility to create an individualized course of study in collaboration with faculty members and to participate in a self-governing community. Instead of traditional majors, students pursue a self-designed Plan of Concentration based on their academic interests, culminating in a major work of scholarship. Students graduate having completed a profound intellectual journey, and go out into the world with greater self-reliance and the skills needed to forge their own career path or pursue graduate-level study.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Associate Director of Admissions
PO Box A, 2582 South Road
Marlboro, VT 05344-0300
Experience College Life
Whittemore Theatre
Gander World Studies Center
Serkin Center for the Performing Arts
Persons Auditorium
Mount Snow, VT
South Pond, VT
Northampton, MA
Marlboro Music Festival, VT
Campus Tours
8:30am-4:30pm
800.343.0049
Dates: Year-round
Times: Mon-Fri 10am and 2pm
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
If you are looking for an intentionally small, intellectually demanding liberal arts school where students are seen, heard, known and valued, Marlboro College would be a great college choice for you. Marlboro assesses student potential in the unique context of each applicant's experience, without the confines of GPAs or standardized test scores. There is no formula for what makes a student a "good fit" for Marlboro, but applicants are reviewed with an eye towards intellectual promise, self-motivation, self-discipline and ability to positively contribute to our community.
Students may apply to Marlboro under three different application plans.
Early Decision: Deadline-November 15; Notification-December 1
Early Action: Deadline-January 15; Notification-February 1
Regular Admission: Rolling
Please note that if you are applying for financial aid it is important to file the FAFSA by March 1.
In order to be considered for admission, please submit the following: a completed Common Application and Marlboro College Supplement with the "Why Marlboro?" personal statement (or the optional Marlboro College Application, if you are not already filling out the Common Application), the $50 nonrefundable application fee, all high school and college transcript(s), an expository writing sample, and two letters of recommendation (teacher and general). An interview is required for all students. Submission of SAT or ACT scores is optional.
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Action — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Application Essay
Interview
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Rather than follow a prescribed academic program, Marlboro students work closely with faculty advisors to map out an individualized course of study based on their intellectual interests. This approach allows students to study broadly and creatively across disciplines before embarking on their self-designed Plan of Concentration, an in-depth examination of a focused academic area that culminates in a major work of scholarship. By taking ownership of and responsibility for the scope and topography of their intellectual exploration, Marlboro students learn how to define a set of goals, develop a comprehensive plan to meet them, and work through the obstacles that inevitably arise along the way. They employ initiative and grit throughout the process and emerge at the end with a joyful sense of accomplishment, heightened confidence, and invaluable experience.
Marlboro's faculty members bring an extraordinary degree of commitment, passion and academic mentoring to their teaching endeavors. Beyond the traditional classroom setting, faculty members interact with students through one-on-one tutorials, Plan advising sessions, service-learning trips and collaborative projects ranging from scholarly papers to films. Whether participating in Town Meeting or composing original music for a promotional video, faculty members make significant contributions to the vitality and spirit of Marlboro's learning community on a regular basis.
Whether their academic interests lean toward Russian literature or contemporary dance, students write prodigiously over the course of their time at Marlboro. Within their first three semesters, students must fulfill the Clear Writing Requirement, which involves submitting a portfolio of clear, concise and grammatically correct writing samples for approval by the faculty. Marlboro's focus on helping students develop their command of the written word speaks to the college's underlying focus on clear thinking, which is both a product and reflection of clear writing. Whatever career paths Marlboro students forge, they all benefit from the ability to process complex information and effectively communicate their ideas to others.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Marlboro College empowers undergraduate students to create an individualized course of study in collaboration with faculty members. Based on their personal academic interests and goals, students study broadly across disciplines before embarking on a self-designed Plan of Concentration that culminates in a major work of scholarship. This approach allows students to take ownership of and responsibility for the scope and structure of their intellectual exploration. Degrees offered include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and, through the World Studies Program, Bachelor of Arts or Science in International Studies. Our degree fields are:
American Studies
Anthropology
Art History
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Ceramics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Cultural History
Dance
Economics
Environmental Studies
Film/Video Studies
Gender Studies
History
Languages
Liberal Studies
Literature
Mathematics
Music
Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media
Philosophy
Photography
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Religion
Sculpture
Sociology
Theater
Visual Arts
World Studies
Writing
Faculty and Class Information
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Area Studies, Other.
Area Studies.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
East Asian Studies.
Ethnic Studies.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
French Studies.
Gay/Lesbian Studies.
Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
Latin American Studies.
Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
Pacific Area/Pacific Rim Studies.
South Asian Studies.
Southeast Asian Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other.
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Biomedical Sciences, General.
Ecology.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, Other.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Computer Programming.
Computer Programming/Programmer, General.
Computer Science.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
American Literature (United States).
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other.
English Literature (British and Commonwealth).
General Literature.
Literature, Other.
Literature.
Writing, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Applied Linguistics.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Comparative Literature.
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
French Language and Literature.
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Writing.
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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
General Studies.
Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Algebra and Number Theory.
Mathematics, General.
Mathematics, Other.
Mathematics.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Biological and Physical Sciences.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
Natural Resources/Conservation, General.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Islamic Studies.
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General.
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other.
Philosophy, Other.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies, Other.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Astronomy.
Chemistry, General.
Chemistry.
Physics, General.
Physics, Other.
Physics.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Comparative Psychology.
Developmental and Child Psychology.
Psychology, General.
Psychology, Other.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
American Government and Politics (United States).
Anthropology, Other.
Anthropology.
Economics, General.
Economics, Other.
Economics.
Political Economy.
Political Science and Government, General.
Political Science and Government, Other.
Political Science and Government.
Social Sciences, General.
Sociology and Anthropology.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Acting.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Ceramic Arts and Ceramics.
Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
Dance, General.
Dance, Other.
Dance.
Directing and Theatrical Production.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Fine and Studio Arts.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Music History, Literature, and Theory.
Music Performance, General.
Music, General.
Music, Other.
Music.
Painting.
Photography.
Playwriting and Screenwriting.
Sculpture.
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology.
Theatre Literature, History and Criticism.
Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Visual and Performing Arts, Other.
Students Say
Degrees
Certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
On Campus Interviews
Regional Alumni
Experiential
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Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Career Services
Alumni Network
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Interest Inventory
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On Campus Interviews
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
For the 2018-2019 academic year, the fees are as follows:
Tuition: $39,870
Fees: $970
Room: $7,142
Board: $5,206
Total: $53,188
Financial Aid
As a very small, private liberal arts college, Marlboro makes a conscious and continuous effort to keep tuition and fees as affordable as possible. In recent years, we've increased the amount of need-based grant aid provided to students and increased other awards for financial aid. Today more than 90 percent of full-time Marlboro students receive some form of financial assistance. Applicants should contact the Financial Aid Office directly to request a financial aid packet, which includes step-by-step instructions. The priority deadline for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is March 1. The financial aid office can be reached at 802-258-9312 or finaid@marlboro.edu.
Dates
Required Forms
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Marlboro College operates based on a model of community governance. Students, faculty, and staff play an integral role in shaping campus life through their participation in Town Meeting, a monthly assembly during which college-wide issues are discussed and brought to vote. Students also serve on committees in areas ranging from curriculum development and faculty hiring to public art and food services.
Campus life at Marlboro College correlates directly with student interests. Extracurricular groups and activities evolve yearly with each incoming class. Through this ongoing collective creation of community, Marlboro students develop valuable skills in teamwork and community organizing as well as a strong sense of civic investment.
One of the most popular resources for student activities is the Outdoor Program, OP for short. The OP offers a variety of activities from week-long orientation trips for new students to weekend mini trips, to winter and spring-break trips in tropical climates. Some of the popular activities have been rock climbing, hiking, rafting, kayaking, camping, yoga, intramural soccer, broomball, and Ultimate Frisbee. The college also has an indoor climbing wall and regular intramural activities.
For a small campus, students enjoy a wide range of social, artistic, and cultural activities. A sampling of student activities in one semester would include performances by rock, folk, jazz, and ethnic bands; dances; lectures; poetry readings; recitals; plays; and concerts. Annual events that are considered traditions include midnight breakfast, Wendell-Judd Cup cross country ski event, Work Day, President's Fall Ball, Trails Day, broomball tournament, community and international dinners, Gender Bender Ball, and Apple Days.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Marlboro College's setting in rural southern Vermont provides students with space for quiet contemplation as well as myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation. With 40 miles of trails on or near our 300-acre campus, and the Green Mountain National Forest nearby, students have easy access to hiking, mountain biking, skiing, caving, climbing and kayaking (among other activities). Each season includes Marlboro traditions such as Apple Days in the fall and the broomball tournament in winter.
Tucked on its own Potash Hill, the college is an integral part of the town of Marlboro, a community of less than 1,000 where many staff, faculty and students are active citizens. Some of the many benefits shared by both the college and the town include a volunteer fire company, a community newsletter called the Marlboro Mixer, cross-country ski trails, the Marlboro Historical Society, the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, the Marlboro Community Fair and the January Book Swap. Marlboro is also the site of the world famous Marlboro Music Festival which occupies the campus during the summer.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The core of campus buildings is made up of historic farmhouses and barns, renovated into classrooms and dorms by the first students who attended Marlboro. These include Dalrymple Hall, the main classroom building; the dining hall; the admissions building; and Mather, the administrative building. Over many years the college has added more buildings, including residence halls, student cabins and cottages, Persons Auditorium/gymnasium, Whittemore Theater, Rice-Aron Library, the Campus Center and Total Health Center, and the Serkin Center for Performing Arts. The new Snyder Visual Arts Center adds exciting new gallery, studio and classroom space for the integration of visual arts with other disciplines. Other facilities include an integrated science lab, a DNA lab, a computer lab, and a digital media lab.
Off-Campus Opportunities
With the vibrant town of Brattleboro just 10 miles away, Marlboro students have easy access to many resources and activities. Brattleboro is an eclectic community located in the Connecticut River Valley and a regional center for art, commerce and technology. It was listed as one of the "20 Best Small Towns in America" by Smithsonian magazine, one of the "10 Best Small Towns in America" by Fodor's, and in the top 10 in the book The 100 Best Art Towns in America, with many galleries, music venues, bookstores and performance spaces to experience. Among the blocks of historic red-brick buildings one can find cozy cafes and four-star restaurants featuring local fare and international cuisines including Thai, Korean, Greek and Italian. Mother Earth News named Brattleboro one of "Eight Great Places You've Never Heard Of", and it's college-town feel was recently highlighted on Vermont Public Radio. Vans run from the college into Brattleboro multiple times a day and trips to Northeastern cities such as Northampton, Boston, New York and Montreal occur several weekends each semester.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Apartment Single
Cooperative
Disabled Student
Dorms Female
Other
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Student Activities
Sports
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/