Lawmakers weigh future of Vermont early‑college program as presenters cite $2.9–$3 million annual cost

Vermont State Colleges officials told the House Education Committee on Feb. 27, 2025, that the state-funded early‑college program enrolled several hundred high‑school seniors last year, cost roughly $2.9–$3.0 million to operate and disproportionately serves low‑income and first‑generation students.

“For the record, I am Beth Mauck. I'm the chancellor of the Vermont State College's system,” Beth Mauck said, introducing the system’s presentation. Sharon Scott, chief financial and operating officer for the system, gave financial detail: “The program last year had 355 students who attended the Vermont State Colleges as part of the early college program and concluded the program. The program itself, it was cost $2,900,000 almost $3,000,000 for the state of Vermont.”

Why it matters: presenters told lawmakers the program increases college continuation and helps retain young Vermonters. Mauck said the program is “a success story” and reported that, in fall 2024, 377 students participated; since fiscal 2023 there was a 41% increase in first‑generation college students in the program. Scott said about 81% of early‑college participants later continued to college, up from about 69% in 2019.

Program scope and student mix

Vermont State Colleges officials said the program allows high‑school seniors to take courses at system campuses or remotely through Community College of Vermont (CCV), Vermont State University (VSU) centers and a small partnership with Norwich University. Presenters said participation statewide is small — roughly 5.75% (under 6%) of Vermont high‑school students — but concentrated in some larger sending schools. Scott said the program recorded 370 students at the start of the year and 355 who completed the program, with some students choosing not to continue into the spring semester.

Officials emphasized the program’s reach among low‑income students. Mauck said about half of participants last year were low income, and Scott reiterated the program’s role in making college accessible for students whose families would otherwise struggle to pay. Scott also gave retention numbers she characterized as unusually high for dual‑enrollment programs: roughly 45% of students who took part one year enrolled on a Vermont State Colleges campus the following year.

Budget and institutional impact

Scott told the committee the $2.9–$3.0 million paid for tuition and fee waivers and that VSC campuses waived substantial fees for early‑college students. She said students with additional material or book needs can apply to VSAC for support. Mauck and Scott warned that losing the state funding would create a substantial shortfall for the colleges: Scott said the Community College of Vermont would face about $1.7 million in lost revenue, a significant share of its budget, and that the system would need to identify replacements for the funds if state support were removed.

Committee members pressed presenters on competing proposals and funding models. Officials said a separate proposal now before lawmakers, the Freedom and Unity Scholarship proposed by VSAC, would target families with incomes up to about $75,000 and mirror an existing CCV program called 802 Opportunity. Mauck said VSAC’s calculations treat currently matriculated VSC students as the baseline for that program and that high‑school early‑college students are not eligible while still enrolled in high school, so the scholarship would not fully substitute for the early‑college funding.

Program interaction with other initiatives

Presenters described a pilot called the Three Degree Promise (described by presenters as funded by the Macora Foundation) that would guarantee a second year free at CCV to early‑college students who complete the program, shortening time to an associate degree. Scott said the Three Degree Promise is a time‑limited, grant‑funded pilot and applies only to students who participate at CCV. She also said some early‑college students do not remain at CCV after the program concludes.

Effects on sending high schools

Committee members raised concerns about the program’s effect on sending high‑school classes and school operations. Scott and Mauck noted that Act 77 (2013) provides a financial protection to sending districts at a 5% cap on some counts, but presenters and lawmakers said that cap does not prevent the practical disruption if a larger share of a particular school’s senior class enrolls in early college. Scott identified a single outlier sending school where participation rose from 11 to 28 students year‑to‑year, and she said most schools send only one to three students in a given year.

Federal aid and eligibility

Mauck and Scott clarified financial‑aid limits: because early‑college students are not matriculated at VSC while still in high school, they are not eligible for federal Pell grants or other federal student aid until they graduate and formally matriculate.

Committee reaction and next steps

Members questioned how legislators should weigh the program’s benefits for students and the colleges against concerns about property‑tax pressure and impacts on sending schools. Presenters offered to provide more detail about geographic distribution and the share of courses taken online; Scott said a substantial share of CCV coursework is available online and that the university also offers online or hybrid options. No formal action was taken during the hearing.

The committee asked presenters for follow‑up information on student distribution by sending district, the share of remote versus in‑person course delivery, and details about the Three Degree Promise timeline and funding. Presenters said they would provide those details to committee staff.