Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, set between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks and known nationally for its language schools, environmental studies, and writing programs anchored by the Bread Loaf School of English. With about 2,650 undergraduates, an 8-to-1 student-faculty ratio, and a distinctive 4-1-4 calendar that includes a one-course January term, Middlebury centers on close, discussion-driven teaching. Admission is highly selective: it admitted roughly 12.8% of nearly 11,900 first-year applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled students who submitted scores posted middle-50% SATs of 1460–1530 and 33–35 on the ACT. The social sciences are the most-conferred field, and Middlebury is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.
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Middlebury admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Middlebury offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~4.0× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Middlebury is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How Middlebury weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Middlebury's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency. Books and personal expenses aren't itemized in this Common Data Set.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Middlebury admissions
Is it hard to get into Middlebury?＋
Yes — Middlebury is highly selective, admitting about 12.8% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It offered admission to roughly 1,511 of nearly 11,831 first-year applicants and enrolled about 634 students. Beyond the numbers, the rigor of your high school record, GPA, and class rank are all weighed as very important factors in a holistic review.
What is Middlebury's acceptance rate, and does applying Early Decision help?＋
Middlebury's overall acceptance rate is about 12.8%. Its binding Early Decision rounds (ED I and ED II combined) admitted 460 of 1,179 early applicants — roughly a 39% early admit rate, well above the regular-round odds. Middlebury offers no Early Action, so the early path is binding ED only.
Does Middlebury require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Middlebury is test-optional, so you may apply without submitting scores. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1460–1530 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT, and the vast majority of those submitters landed in the top score band.
Is a 1500 SAT good enough for Middlebury?＋
A 1500 is solidly competitive — it sits right at the median for enrolled students and within the middle-50% range of 1460–1530 on the SAT. About 92% of enrolled first-years who submitted SAT scores scored in the 1400–1600 band. Since Middlebury is test-optional, you can also apply without a score if it doesn't represent you well.
What GPA do you need to get into Middlebury?＋
Middlebury does not publish an average admitted GPA in its Common Data Set, but the rigor of your high school record, academic GPA, and class rank are each weighed as very important factors. There is no hard cutoff, but admitted students typically rank near the top of their class with a demanding course load.
How much does Middlebury cost, and is financial aid available?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $70,640 per year, with housing and food adding roughly $20,116 for the full cost of attendance. Middlebury meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 46% of first-years receive need-based grant or scholarship aid, with an average need-based package near $62,170.
What are the most popular majors at Middlebury?＋
The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 30% of degrees, followed by the biological sciences (13%) and environmental studies (8%). Computer science, foreign languages, and psychology round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting Middlebury's strengths in language study and environmental work.
Does the application essay matter at Middlebury?＋
Yes. Middlebury rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, alongside recommendations and demonstrated interest, and just below the very important academic factors. With an admit rate around 12.8%, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Middlebury College Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. % Receiving Need-Based Aid, Avg. Aid Package, and Avg. % Need Met are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Middlebury. Banner photo by Kenneth James Burchfiel III, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).