On January 22nd, 2026, Bennington College announced its partnership with Verto Education, a company specializing in study abroad experiences for first-year students.
Though partnered, Verto Education and Bennington College continue to operate independently. Verto students enrolled in the Direct Transfer Admission Pathway program will take courses accredited by the University of New Haven and earn credits while abroad that can later be transferred to a college of their choice. By joining their list of over 40+ direct transfer partner schools, Bennington College will guarantee admission to Verto participants who apply and meet Bennington’s eligibility criteria. This means prospective students will earn a GPA above a 3.0 and complete at least 12 credits per semester with Verto before arriving on campus as second-year students.
The announcement comes as colleges nationwide search for new ways to attract students and manage declining enrollment. In a conversation with Alyssa Tomkowicz, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Bennington, she stated that the decision to partner with Verto was driven by a desire to expand transfer recruitment and provide students with an alternative path into higher education.
“Verto is this very unique program that we felt fit in a lot with Bennington students and their interests,” Tomkowicz said.
When asked what type of prospective students would most benefit from a first year with Verto, she said “there are some students that have a very big sense of wanderlust, who really want to get out there and see the world.”
Still, the opportunity to spend a year abroad raises questions about affordability. According to the Verto Education website, their tuition cost covers student housing, digital learning materials, and city excursions, but meal plans at specific abroad destinations are only available through an additional cost. Although Verto offers grants, scholarships and payment plans to help students lessen the cost, federal financial aid cannot be used to directly fund Verto tuition. For students already struggling with the cost of higher education, this alternative pathway feels more like an option available only to those who can truly afford it.
Beyond cost, students recognize challenges that might come from delaying one’s arrival onto a traditional campus. For many, the experience of moving into a dorm and befriending their new peers is a crucial part of adjusting into college life as a first-year, which may even surpass the appeal of spending a year aboard. “If you’re going to one place for a year, that might affect transitioning into a college since it isn’t a typical move,” said Jason Ta, a first-year student at Bennington. “Although this college isn’t really typical,” he joked.
As a college that prioritizes real-world experience and going against the norm, a transfer program such as this one seems to fit naturally into Bennington’s quirky culture. Yet with transfers making up about 10% of the student population, the question lingers on how Verto participants will be able to integrate into such a tight-knit college, both socially and academically.
Due to the partnership’s recency, Tomkowicz said that the number of students transferring through Verto this admission cycle is still unknown. However, she does anticipate welcoming more transfers as both the college’s promotion and interest in the Direct Transfer Admission Pathway program grows.
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