Middlebury admissions looks for prospective applicants who are engaged, globally and socially conscious, and ready to pursue their passions. Middlebury students will benefit from an academic environment built on critical thinking, collaboration, and compassionate doing.
For the most recent Middlebury application cycle, Middlebury received 13,908 applications. Of the students that submitted a Middlebury application, 1,955 were admitted.
Middlebury students in the class of 2026 come from 43 states (including D.C. and Puerto Rico) and 41 countries. Also, 10% of 2026 Middlebury students are international students, and 21% are first-generation college students.
Middlebury admissions
According to U.S. News, Middlebury admissions is considered most selective. Middlebury admissions officials consider GPA, high school class rank, and letters of recommendation as important academic factors in the Middlebury application process.
Middlebury admissions looks to learn more about who an applicant is within multiple contexts—in school, in their community, and in their family. Like many top schools, Middlebury admissions uses a holistic review process when evaluating a student’s Middlebury application. In other words, Middlebury admissions will consider multiple factors beyond GPA and test scores as they assess your Middlebury application.
Middlebury admissions will examine your Middlebury essay, academic profile, extracurricular activities, personal background and interests, and teacher recommendations to evaluate your application.
Most Middlebury students who were accepted into the class of 2026 were ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes. They challenged themselves academically through rigorous coursework and a strong commitment to extracurricular activities.
Middlebury College also considers demonstrated interest in the admissions process. Demonstrated interest encompasses a multitude of things. However, simply put, demonstrated interest means that you are engaging with Middlebury College and its offerings. Demonstrated interest shows Middlebury admissions officers that you are serious about attending Middlebury College if accepted.
There are multiple ways to show demonstrated interest within your Middlebury application. You can even show demonstrated interest before you begin your Middlebury application or after you submit it to Middlebury College.
Some common ways to show demonstrated interest include requesting information about Middlebury or attending a Middlebury College tour, either virtually or in person. You can also reach out to your regional Middlebury admissions officer to learn more about the application process. You can also show your passion for Middlebury in your Middlebury interview. You won’t complete a Middlebury essay supplement, so engaging with Middlebury will help you stand out.
Middlebury acceptance rate
In Fall 2020, the Middlebury acceptance rate was 22%, making it one of the most selective colleges in the United States. The Middlebury College acceptance rate is tied to the number of applicants that Middlebury accepts each year. As Middlebury College receives more applicants than they can admit, the Middlebury College acceptance rate will decrease.
Middlebury students in the class of 2025 made it through a competitive Middlebury admissions cycle. The 2021-2022 cycle brought the Middlebury acceptance rate down, as it did for many schools across the nation. The current Middlebury College acceptance rate is 15.75%. Within a short period of time, the Middlebury acceptance rate decreased by approximately 6.25 percentage points.
As more students are applying to college than ever before, the Middlebury acceptance rate will likely remain the same or continue to decrease. As each Middlebury admissions season passes, you can expect the Middlebury College acceptance rate to change.
The Middlebury acceptance rate is just one of many factors to consider as you begin your Middlebury application. Because the Middlebury College acceptance rate is so low, you want to make sure that each part of your application is top-notch.
Middlebury application
The Middlebury application can be found on the Common App. Middlebury College is currently test-optional, which means that you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores with your Middlebury application.
The Middlebury application requirements are listed below:
- Common App essay (to be used as your only Middlebury essay)
- Two teacher recommendations
- School report
- Counselor recommendation
- High school transcript
- Senior grades
- Application fee
Middlebury College also accepts optional application materials, including:
- Standardized tests
- Optional arts supplements
- Additional materials
We recommend that you submit as many of the optional application materials to Middlebury College as you can. Because the Middlebury College acceptance rate is so selective, going the extra mile with your Middlebury application can help you stand out.
There are multiple Middlebury College admissions deadlines. Choosing the right Middlebury admissions deadline for you is an important part of the Middlebury application process, considering how low the Middlebury acceptance rate has become.
If Middlebury College is your dream school, consider submitting your Middlebury College application by the Early Decision I deadline, November 1st. If you submit your Middlebury College application by this deadline, you will receive a decision by mid-December.
Early Decision I is binding, which means that you must attend Middlebury College if you are admitted through this application deadline. In other words, if you receive a college acceptance letter from Middlebury College after applying Early Decision I, you must withdraw all other college applications and commit to attending Middlebury.
Middlebury College has two other admissions deadlines, Early Decision II and Regular Decision. If you submit your Middlebury College application through the Early Decision II deadline of January 3rd, you will be notified of your admission decision by mid-February. Like Early Decision I, applying Early Decision II at Middlebury College is also binding.
The Regular Decision deadline at Middlebury College is also January 3rd. If you apply to Middlebury College by this deadline, you will be notified of your admissions decision in late March.
The Common App essay is the only required writing piece for admission. Middlebury College does not require a supplemental Middlebury essay.
You can find possible essay prompts for the Middlebury essay—your Common App essay—on the Common Application website. If you are unsure of how to begin the writing process, try looking at college essay examples.
Even though Middlebury College is test-optional, we recommend submitting your standardized test scores with your Middlebury application. We will examine the average Middlebury SAT and Middlebury SAT requirements in the next section.
Middlebury SAT
Like many schools, Middlebury went test-optional through the COVID-19 pandemic. Middlebury College will be test-optional for a three-year pilot, through the 2022-2023 Middlebury application cycle.
It is your decision whether to submit your standardized test scores with your Middlebury College application. However, there are many factors to consider before making this decision, including the selective Middlebury acceptance rate, Middlebury ranking, and Middlebury enrollment. Reviewing the average Middlebury SAT and any Middlebury SAT requirements can help you decide if submitting your scores is right for you.
In fall 2020, the average Middlebury SAT score was between 1340–1520, and the average ACT score was between 31-34. For the Middlebury College Class of 2025, the average Middlebury SAT score was 1420-1470, and the average ACT score was 32-34.
If your test scores match the Middlebury SAT requirements or average Middlebury SAT score, it makes sense to submit them with your Middlebury College application. However, if your test scores do not align with the average Middlebury SAT, you do not have to include them with your application. This will not impact your application review.
If you choose to submit your optional test scores, Middlebury College will “super score” your results. This means they will accept the highest score on each portion of the SAT or ACT test and add the best scores together to create a new “super score.” So, it’s beneficial to sit for either the SAT or ACT test multiple times, especially if you are trying to match the average Middlebury SAT scores.
You are allowed to self-report your test scores on your Middlebury College application. In order to submit your test scores, you can enter them into the testing section of the Common Application or upload your scores directly into the Middlebury College application portal. Official test scores can be sent directly from your high school or counselor, noted on your transcript, or sent via the College Board or ACT website.
Middlebury College also lists out the latest test date for the SAT and ACT that you can take and still meet any of the Middlebury admission deadlines. If you are applying to Middlebury College through Early Decision I, the latest test dates you can register for are in November. If you are applying to Middlebury College through the Early Decision II or Regular Decision deadlines, the latest test dates you can register for are in December.
Middlebury GPA
Middlebury College does not publish the average Middlebury GPA or Middlebury GPA requirements on its website. However, based on the Middlebury College ranking and low Middlebury College acceptance rate, you can assume that the average Middlebury GPA is at least a 4.0.
Although the Middlebury GPA requirements and average Middlebury GPA are not available online, this does not mean that GPA isn’t considered in the Middlebury College application review process. Because Middlebury College reviews applications holistically, your GPA will be weighed the same as your essay, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of your application.
To be a competitive applicant to Middlebury College, try matching the average assumed Middlebury GPA of 4.0. If your GPA is lower than the average Middlebury GPA, don’t worry. You can maximize your chances of admission at Middlebury College by focusing on perfecting other aspects of your application, like the Common App essay (your only Middlebury essay).
Check out our guide on GPA requirements for more information on the average GPA for college.
Middlebury interview
The Middlebury interview is the perfect opportunity for applicants to learn more about Middlebury College and the Middlebury campus. It is also a great chance for your Middlebury alumni interviewer to learn more about you.
The Middlebury interview is optional and not required for admission. If you are unable to complete a Middlebury interview, it will not negatively impact your admission odds. However, we recommend scheduling your Middlebury interview as soon as you submit your Middlebury application and receive access to your Applicant Portal.
The Middlebury interview is conducted by alumni volunteers. Due to the amount of applications Middlebury College receives each admissions season, not every applicant will be granted a Middlebury interview.
Interviews will be offered virtually for the upcoming 2022-2023 application process. There are no interviews offered on the Middlebury campus.
If you plan to apply to Middlebury through the Early Decision I deadline, you must request an interview by November 7, 2022. If you are going to apply through the Early Decision II or Regular Decision deadline, you’ll need to request your Middlebury interview by January 9, 2023.
Middlebury College will do its best to assign an interview to as many applicants as possible. However, if you are not matched for a Middlebury interview, you do have the opportunity to submit a personal video, or Elevator Pitch, to the Middlebury admissions office.
The Elevator Pitch is a 90-second video statement that allows the Middlebury admissions officers to get to know more about you. We recommend submitting an Elevator Pitch if you are not matched for a Middlebury interview. Although there is a fee associated with this service, you can send your recording to multiple colleges and universities, not just to Middlebury.
