How a frontier republic’s dream became one of America’s oldest public universities

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before Vermont was even a state, its leaders envisioned a university for the public good. Founded on land donated by Ira Allen, the University of Vermont grew from a small frontier college into a research institution that broke barriers for women and minorities long before its peers followed suit.

The University of Vermont occupies a unique place in American history. While most public universities were established by states already within the Union, the planning for this institution began in 1777 when Vermont was still an independent republic. Though the university was not formally chartered until 1791—the same year Vermont joined the United States—it remains one of the oldest state universities in the country. Ira Allen, a key figure in the state's early development, provided the initial 50-acre land grant that established the campus in Burlington.

From its inception, the university pursued a progressive path. It was the first American institution to explicitly declare in its charter that it would not favor any specific religious denomination. This spirit of independence continued into the 19th century. In 1871, the school began admitting women, and by 1875, it became the first university to grant women membership into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society. African American students were also welcomed into the society by 1877, marking a significant milestone in collegiate equality.

The university's evolution was further shaped by the Morrill Act of 1862, which provided federal support for agricultural and technical education. In 1865, the school merged with the Vermont Agricultural College to become the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. Today, the institution balances this land-grant heritage with a diverse academic portfolio, ranging from medicine and natural resources to the arts and sciences. The campus itself serves as a living history, featuring the Old Mill, whose cornerstone was laid by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1825.

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