Marlboro College

Marlboro College’s intentionally small, rural, and tight-knit academic community is an ideal environment for welcoming students from other countries and cultures. Marlboro is home to less than 300 students, who are each empowered with the freedom and responsibility to create an individualized course of study in collaboration with faculty members. 

The college is always seeking motivated international students, and has accepted applicants from all over the world, from Slovenia and Ethiopia to South Korea and Peru. Like all Marlboro students, international students with intellectual promise can expect to be supported and respected for the unique experiences and perspectives they bring to the community.

A small, liberal arts and sciences school

Liberal arts and sciences does not refer to a political leaning or a program where students only study art or science. A liberal arts and sciences education refers to an educational program where students have a broad foundation of study in addition to targeted exploration of specific fields. 

Liberal arts and sciences institutions like Marlboro teach their students to think critically and develop arguments through both writing and speech, which are important skills for international students to master and are applicable to many professions.

A unique academic program

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. 

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. 

A dedicated faculty

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. 

A rural community

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 400-acre campus, and the Green Mountain National Forest nearby, students have easy access to hiking, mountain biking, skiing, caving, climbing, kayaking and 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. 

A culturally dynamic region 

With the vibrant town of Brattleboro just 10 miles away, Marlboro students have easy access to many resources and activities. Brattleboro is a regional center for art, commerce, and technology, listed as one of the “20 Best Small Towns in America” by Smithsonian magazine and one of the “10 Best Small Towns in America” by Fodor’s. 

The town has many galleries, music venues, bookstores, and performance spaces to experience. Among the blocks of historic red-brick buildings you 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.” 

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. 

A world of possibilities

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.