With only 1,700 undergraduates, Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont may be small, but it thinks—and teaches—on a grand scale. During my visit, I heard directly from President Alex Hernandez, whose energy and clarity of vision set the tone for the whole campus. His message was simple but powerful: Champlain’s mission is to graduate students who are truly career-ready—not just with degrees, but with portfolios, experience, and confidence to step right into the workforce.
The “Upside-Down Curriculum”: Learn What You Love Now, Not Later
Most colleges make students wait until sophomore or junior year to dive into their major. Not Champlain. Its Upside-Down Curriculum flips that model completely—students start taking major-specific classes in their very first semester.
That means a game design major might be coding or developing storyboards in week one, while a marketing major is already learning strategy and analytics. The benefit? You get to test-drive your interests early, figure out what you love (or don’t), and build real-world skills from the start.
This hands-on approach has earned Champlain a reputation with employers. As President Hernandez proudly noted, “Lots of CEOs say Champlain grads are the best—because experience is included.”
Experience Included: Co-Ops, Internships & Global Opportunities
Beginning in 2026, Champlain will launch “Experience Included” Co-Ops, giving students the chance to complete one or two paid co-op placements while still graduating in four years. Every student will have the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience that counts toward their degree.
But experiential learning doesn’t stop there. Even required courses are project-based, and Champlain offers summer internships at international centers, where students can live and work abroad. The school is also partnering with Claude AI / Anthropic, giving tech-savvy students exposure to cutting-edge artificial-intelligence applications and ethics discussions.
Champlain even hosts a fellowship / think tank devoted to preparing students to “harvest change”—a phrase that captures the college’s focus on adaptability in a rapidly shifting world.
Coming Soon: The Flex 30 Plan
In fall 2026, Champlain will roll out its innovative Flex 30 Plan, a new scheduling model inspired by Dartmouth’s D-Plan. Students will still earn the same number of credits but gain greater flexibility to structure their academic year—studying full-time on campus some terms, taking internships or co-ops others, and exploring off-campus learning experiences when it fits their goals.
It’s designed for students who want control over their time, whether that means pursuing a startup idea, studying abroad, or completing an extended co-op.
Admissions Snapshot
Champlain’s overall acceptance rate is about 73%, making it a selective-but-accessible choice for most students. However, game design and computer science are much more competitive, so applying Early Decision can be a smart move for those fields.
Champlain tracks demonstrated interest, so campus visits, info sessions, and—yes—uploading a résumé to the Common App can make a difference. The student body is male-heavy, particularly in tech majors, and the college is actively working to recruit more women into those programs.
Student Life on the Lake
Located right on the shores of Lake Champlain, the campus has stunning views and easy access to outdoor recreation. Burlington itself is a vibrant, artsy, and eco-friendly city, known for its live music, independent cafés, and community vibe. It’s also small enough that students feel safe and connected, but big enough to keep things interesting.
While Champlain doesn’t have traditional NCAA sports, it channels that energy into its thriving eSports program—currently the college’s only varsity-level sport. Competitive gaming here is serious business, and it fits perfectly with Champlain’s forward-looking, tech-friendly culture.
Why Champlain Deserves a Spot on Your List
Champlain College blends career-readiness, creativity, and innovation in a way few schools can match. From the Upside-Down Curriculum to the upcoming Flex 30 Plan and Experience Included Co-Ops, everything here is designed to prepare students for what comes next—whatever that may be.
If you’re drawn to a hands-on, high-tech, globally minded education in a friendly lakeside city, Champlain College might be your perfect fit. It’s a place where students don’t just study their future—they start building it on day one.
