What Colleges Require the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Colleges across the U.S. are increasingly requiring COVID-19 vaccination for on-campus learning. Check out the full list of colleges that require the vaccine.
by
Staff Writers
Writer
The staff writers for BestColleges collaborate to deliver unique, student-driven content on topics such as career development, college life, and college planning....
Edited by
Reece Johnson
Editor & Writer
Reece Johnson is the managing editor for news, issues, and trends. He writes about the future of work and higher education, student political activism, and expanding educational opportunities. He holds a master's degree from Columbia University and a...
Updated September 9, 2022
Learn more about our editorial process
19 min read
Share this Article
Editor's Note: This article is updated regularly as new information becomes available. Reporting and data collection for this piece has been provided by Jessica Bryant, Anne Dennon, Darlene Earnest, Reece Johnson, Hannah Muniz, Rachel Schneider, Evan Castillo, Chloe Appleby, and Jordan Stewart-Rozema.
A still-expanding group of U.S. colleges and universities say students must receive a COVID-19 vaccine before arriving on campus. The first institutions to announce the mandate were private, with Cornell University and Duke University leading the way. More and more universities, private and public, have followed suit. Currently, over 1,000 colleges and universities require the COVID-19 vaccine for residential students.
Most colleges already require on-campus students to be vaccinated against viral diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. Government agencies suggest that schools may similarly require the COVID-19 shots.
Some state lawmakers — and at least two lawsuits — argued that inoculation can't be made mandatory while the experimental vaccines retained their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) status, but full FDA approval of the mRNA-based Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on August 23 has already triggered a surge of college COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Medical exemptions are guaranteed by law in all states, and religious exemptions, which may be relatively easy to receive, are permitted by most. To reinforce the mandate, however, colleges could push unvaccinated students to enroll online instead. The University of Virginia disenrolled 238 students for failing to report vaccination status or file for an exemption.
If permitted on campus, unvaccinated students may be required to continue asymptomatic testing and could be excluded from activities like studying abroad.
To find out about your school's COVID-19 vaccine requirements, check your school's website. You can also review our full list below, which includes colleges requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for on-campus, residential students.
A Full List of Colleges Requiring the COVID-19 Vaccine
Last Updated: September 9, 2022, at 10:13 A.M. EST
States A-G
ALABAMA | ALASKA | ARIZONA | ARKANSAS | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | DELAWARE | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA | GEORGIA
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
- Chamberlain University at Phoenix
- Diné College
- Prescott College
Arkansas
- Arkansas Baptist College
California
- American Jewish University
- American River College
- Berkeley City College
- California College of the Arts
- California Instititute of the Arts
- California Institute of Integral Studies
- California Institute of Technology
- California Jazz Conservatory
- California Lutheran University
- California State University system
- Bakersfield, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Channel Islands, Chico State, Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Fresno State, Fullerton, Humboldt State, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Sacramento State, San Bernardino, San Diego State, San Francisco State, San Jose State, San Marcos, Sonoma State, Stanislaus State
- Chabot College
- Chamberlain University
- Irwindale, Sacramento
- Chapman University
- Claremont Graduate University
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
- College of Alameda
- Consumnes River College
- Cypress College
- De Anza College
- Dominican University of California
- Folsom Lake College
- Foothill College
- Fullerton College
- Harvey Mudd College
- Holy Names University
- La Sierra University
- Laguna College of Art and Design
- Laney College
- Las Positas College
- Los Angeles College of Music
- Loyola Marymount University
- Menlo College
- Merritt College
- Mills College
- New York Film Academy
- Occidental College
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Pepperdine University
- Pitzer College
- Pomona College
- Porterville College
- Sacramento City College
- Saddleback College
- Saint Mary's College of California
- Samuel Merritt University
- Santa Barbara City College
- Santa Clara University
- Santa Rosa Junior College
- Scripps College
- Soka University of America
- Southern California Institute of Architecture
- Southwestern College
- Stanford University
- University of California system
- Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz
- University of La Verne
- University of Redlands
- University of San Diego
- University of San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- University of the Pacific
- University of the West
- Western University of Health Sciences
- Whittier College
- Woodbury University
Colorado
- Colorado College
- Colorado School of Mines
- Colorado State University system
- Fort Collins, Pueblo
- Fort Lewis College
- Naropa University
- Rocky Vista University
- University of Colorado system
- Anschutz Medical Campus, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver
- University of Denver
- University of Northern Colorado
Connecticut
- Connecticut College
- Mitchell College
- Post University
- Quinnipiac University
- Trinity College
- University of Connecticut system
- Avery Point, Hartford, Health (Farmington), School of Law (Hartford), Stamford, Storrs, Waterbury
- Wesleyan University
- Yale University
Delaware
- Delaware College of Art and Design
- Delaware State University
- University of Delaware
District of Columbia
- American University
- Gallaudet University
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Howard University
- Trinity Washington University
- University of the District of Columbia
Florida
- Chamberlain University
- Jacksonville, Miramar
Georgia
- Agnes Scott College
- Chamberlain University at Atlanta
- Clark Atlanta University
- Columbia Theological Seminary
- Emory University
- Mercer University
- **Students in health science programs with clinical experiences
- Morehouse College
- Morris Brown College
- Oglethorpe University
- Spelman College
States H-M
HAWAII | IDAHO | ILLINOIS | INDIANA | IOWA | KANSAS | KENTUCKY | LOUISIANA | MAINE | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MICHIGAN | MINNESOTA | MISSISSIPPI | MISSOURI | MONTANA
Hawaii
- Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
- Adler University
- Ambria College of Nursing
- American Academy of Art
- Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation
- Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Bradley University
- Catholic Theological Union at Chicago
- Chamberlain University
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Chicago Theological Seminary
- Columbia College Chicago
- Danville Area Community College
- DePaul University
- Dominican University
- East-West University
- Elmhurst University
- Erikson Institute
- Fox College
- Frontier Community College
- Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
- Governors State University
- Hebrew Theological College
- Illinois College of Optometry
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- Institute for Clinical Social Work
- Knox College
- Lake Forest College
- Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
- Lincoln College of Technology at Melrose Park
- Lincoln Trail College
- Loyola University Chicago
- Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
- McCormick Theological Seminary
- Meadville Lombard Theological School
- Methodist College
- Morrison Institute of Technology
- Northwestern University
- Olney Central College
- Roosevelt University
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Rush University
- Saint Anthony College of Nursing
- Saint Augustine College
- Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Shawnee Community College
- Southeastern Illinois College
- Southwestern Illinois College
- Spertus College
- Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
- Trinity Christian College
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois system
- Chicago, Springfield, Urbana-Champaign
- University of Saint Mary of the Lake
- VanderCook College of Music
- Wabash Valley College
- Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Indiana
- Butler University
- Chamberlain University at Indianapolis
- DePauw University
- Earlham College
- Goshen College
- Holy Cross College
- Indiana University system
- Bloomington, East, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Northwest, Purdue University Columbus, Purdue University Indianapolis, South Bend, Southeast
- Saint Mary's College
- University of Indianapolis
- University of Notre Dame
- Valparaiso University
- Wabash College
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
- Bellarmine University
- Berea College
- Centre College
- Simmons College of Kentucky
- Transylvania University
Louisiana
- Centenary College of Louisiana
- Central Louisiana Technical Community College
- Chamberlain University at New Orleans
- Dillard University
- Nicholls State University
- Northshore Technical Community College
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
- Northwestern State University
- Southern University system
- Southern University and A&M College, New Orleans, Shreveport, Law Center
- Tulane University
- University of Louisiana
- Lafayette, Monroe
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Maine
- Bates College
- Bowdoin College
- Colby College
- College of the Atlantic
- Husson University
- Maine Community College system
- Central Maine Community College, Eastern Maine Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College, Northern Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College, Washington County Community College, York County Community College
- Maine Maritime Academy
- Saint Joseph's College of Maine
- Thomas College
- Unity College
- University of New England
Maryland
- Goucher College
- Johns Hopkins University
- Loyola University Maryland
- McDaniel College
- Montgomery College
- Morgan State University
- Mount St. Mary's University
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- St. John's College
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Stevenson University
- University System of Maryland
- Bowie State, Coppin State, Frostburg State, Salisbury, Towson, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland (Baltimore, Baltimore County, Center for Environmental Science, College Park, Eastern Shore, Global Campus)
- Washington College
Massachusetts
- American International College
- Amherst College
- Anna Maria College
- Assumption University
- Babson College
- Bay Path University
- Bentley University
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Brandeis University
- Cambridge College
- Clark University
- College of the Holy Cross
- Curry College
- Elms College
- Emerson College
- Emmanuel College
- Endicott College
- Hampshire College
- Harvard University
- Lasell University
- Lesley University
- Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges
- Berkshire, Bristol, Bunker Hill, Cape Cod, Greenfield, Holyoke, Massasoit, MassBay, Middlesex, Mount Wachusett, North Shore, Northern Essex, Quinsigamond, Roxbury, Springfield Technical
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Massachusetts State University system
- Bridgewater, College of Art and Design, College of Liberal Arts, Fitchburg, Framingham, Maritime Academy, Salem, Westfield, Worcester
- Merrimack College
- Mount Holyoke College
- New England Conservatory of Music
- New England Law | Boston
- Northeastern University
- Olin College of Engineering
- Regis College
- Simmons University
- Smith College
- Springfield College
- Stonehill College
- Suffolk University
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts system
- Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell
- Wellesley College
- Western New England University
- Wheaton College
- William James College
- Williams College
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Michigan
- Chamberlain University at Troy
- Eastern Michigan University
- Grand Valley State University
- Kalamazoo College
- Michigan School of Psychology
- Michigan State University
- Oakland University
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Michigan system
- Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint
- Wayne State University
Minnesota
- Augsburg University
- Carleton College
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- Hamline University
- Macalester College
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design
- Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system**
- Alexandria Technical and Community College, Anoka Technical College, Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge, Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, Bemidji State University, Central Lakes College Brainerd, Central Lakes College Staples, Century College White Bear Lakes campus, Century College Mahtomedi, Dakota County Technical College Rosemount campus, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Cloquet, Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College Eden Prairie, Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, Lake Superior College Duluth, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Detroit Lakes, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Moorhead, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Wadena, Minnesota State College Southeast Red Wing, Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Canby, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Jackson, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Pipestone, Minnesota West Community and Technical College Worthington, Normandale Community College Bloomington, North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College Grand Rapids, Mesabi Range College Virginia, Mesabi Range College Eveleth, Rainy River Community College International Falls, Vermillion Community College Ely, Northland Community & Technical College East Grand Forks, Northland Community & Technical College Thief River Falls, Northwest Technical College Bemidji, Ridgewater College Hutchinson, Ridgewater College Willmar, Riverland Community College Austin, Riverland Community College Albert Lea, Riverland Community College Owatonna, Rochester Community & Technical College, St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Saint Paul College, South Central College North Mankato, South Central College Faribault
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
- St. Catherine University
- St. Olaf College
- The College of Saint Scholastica
- University of Minnesota
- Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities
- University of St. Thomas
- ** Students who live on campus or are on sports teams are required to either be vaccinated or tested regularly for COVID-19
Mississippi
Missouri
- Chamberlain University at St. Louis
- Rockhurst University
- Saint Louis University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- William Jewell College
Montana
States N-S
NEBRASKA | NEVADA | NEW HAMPSHIRE | NEW JERSEY | NEW MEXICO | NEW YORK | NORTH CAROLINA | NORTH DAKOTA | OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON | PENNSYLVANIA | RHODE ISLAND | SOUTH CAROLINA | SOUTH DAKOTA
Nebraska
- Creighton University
- Doane University at Crete
- Nebraska Wesleyan University
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nevada
- Chamberlain University at Las Vegas
- Touro University Nevada
New Hampshire
- Dartmouth College
- Franklin Pierce University
- New England College
- Southern New Hampshire University
New Jersey
- Caldwell University
- Chamberlain University at North Brunswick
- Drew University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Felician University
- Georgian Court University
- Kean University
- Monmouth University
- Montclair State University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Princeton University
- Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Rider University
- Rutgers University
- Camden, Brunswick, Newark
- Saint Elizabeth University
- Saint Peter's University
- Seton Hall University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Stockton University
- The College of New Jersey
- William Paterson University
New Mexico
- Central New Mexico Community College
- New Mexico Highlands University
- New Mexico State University
- New Mexico Tech
- Northern New Mexico College
- St. John's College
- University of New Mexico system
- Albuquerque, Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, Valencia
New York
- Adelphi University
- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Albany Law School
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Alfred University
- Bank Street College of Education
- Bard College
- Barnard College
- Canisius College
- Cazenovia College
- Clarkson University
- City University of New York system
- Baruch College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Bronx Community College, Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Graduate Center, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Guttman Community College, Hostos Community College, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Kingsborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Lehman College, Macaulay Honors College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology, Queens College, Queensborough Community College, School of Labor and Urban Studies, School of Law, School of Professional Studies, The City College of New York, York College
- Colgate University
- College of Mount Saint Vincent
- College of Saint Rose
- College of Westchester
- Columbia University
- Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
- Cornell University
- Culinary Institute of America
- Dominican College
- Fordham University
- Glasgow Caledonian New York College
- Hamilton College
- Hartwick College
- Hilbert College
- Hobart William Smith Colleges
- Hofstra University
- Ithaca College
- Jewish Theological Seminary of America
- Le Moyne College
- Manhattan College
- Manhattan School of Music
- Manhattanville College
- Maria College
- Marist College
- Marymount Manhattan College
- Mercy College
- Metropolitan College of New York
- Molloy College
- Mount Saint Mary College
- Nazareth College
- New York Film Academy
- New York Institute of Technology
- New York University
- Niagara University
- Pace University
- Pratt Institute
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Russell Sage College
- Sarah Lawrence College
- School of Visual Arts
- Siena College
- Skidmore College
- St. Bonaventure University
- St. Francis College
- St. John Fisher College
- St. John's University
- St. Joseph's College New York
- State University of New York system
- Adirondack Community College, Alfred State, Alfred, Binghamton, Brockport, Broome, Buffalo State, Canton, Cayuga Community College, Clinton Community College, Cobleskill, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, College of Optometry, Columbia Greene Community College, Cornell (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, College of Human Ecology, School of Industrial & Labor Relations, College of Veterinary Medicine), Corning Community College, Cortland, Delhi, Downstate Health Sciences, Dutchess Community College, Empire State, Erie, Farmingdale State, Fashion Institute of Technology, Finger Lakes Community College, Fredonia, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Genesee Community College, Geneseo, Herkimer, Hudson Valley Community College, Jamestown Community College, Jefferson, Maritime College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Monroe Community College, Morrisville, Nassau Community College, New Paltz, Niagara County Community College, North Country Community College, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Onondaga Community College, Orange County Community College, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Polytechnic Institute, Potsdam, Purchase, Rockland Community College, Schenectady County Community College, Stony Brook, Suffolk County Community College, Sullivan, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Ulster County Community College, University at Albany, University at Buffalo, Upstate Medical, Westchester Community College
- Syracuse University
- The Juilliard School
- The New School
- Touro College & University system
- Bay Shore, Dental Medicine, Flatbush, Harlem, Kew Gardens Hills, Law Center, New York City, Osteopathic Medicine
- Trocaire College
- Union College
- University of Rochester
- Vassar College
- Wagner College
- Wells College
- Yeshiva University
North Carolina
- Bennett College
- Catawba College
- Chamberlain University at Charlotte
- Davidson College
- Duke University
- Elon University
- Guilford College
- Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Queens University of Charlotte
- Salem College
- Shaw University
- Union Presbyterian Seminary at Charlotte
- Wake Forest University
- Warren Wilson College
North Dakota
Ohio
- Antioch College
- Capital University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Chamberlain University
- Cleveland, Columbus
- Cleveland Institute of Art
- Columbus College of Art and Design
- Denison University
- John Carroll University
- Kenyon College
- Methodist Theological School in Ohio
- Miami University
- Mount St. Joseph University
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Oberlin College and Conservatory
- Ohio State University
- Ohio University
- **Residential on-campus students
- Ohio Wesleyan University
- Otterbein University
- The College of Wooster
- University of Toledo
- Wilmington College
- Xavier University
Oklahoma
Oregon
- Lewis & Clark College
- Linfield University
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Oregon State University
- Pacific University
- Portland State University
- Reed College
- Southern Oregon University
- University of Oregon
- University of Portland
- Western Oregon University
- Willamette University
Pennsylvania
- Allegheny College
- Alvernia University
- Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
- Bryn Mawr College
- Bucknell University
- Cabrini University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Chatham University
- Chestnut Hill College
- Dickinson College
- Drexel University
- Duquesne University
- Franklin & Marshall College
- Gettysburg College
- Gwynedd Mercy University
- Haverford College
- Holy Family University
- Immaculata University
- Juniata College
- La Salle University
- Lafayette College
- Lehigh University
- Muhlenberg College
- Moore College of Art and Design
- Neumann University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Point Park University
- Robert Morris University
- Rosemont College
- Saint Joseph's University
- Salus University
- Seton Hill University
- Susquehanna University
- Swarthmore College
- Temple University
- The University of the Arts
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, Pittsburgh Campus, Titusville
- University of Scranton
- Ursinus College
- Villanova University
- Washington & Jefferson College
- Widener University
- Williamson College of the Trades
Rhode Island
- Brown University
- Bryant University
- Community College of Rhode Island
- Johnson & Wales University-Providence
- Rhode Island College
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Roger Williams University
- Salve Regina University
South Carolina
- Claflin University
- Furman University
- Wofford College
- Benedict College
South Dakota
States T-Z
TENNESSEE | TEXAS | UTAH | VERMONT | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON | WEST VIRGINIA | WISCONSIN | WYOMING
Tennessee
- American Baptist College
- Meharry Medical College
- The University of the South
Texas
- Chamberlain University
- Paul Quinn College
- Rice University
- Seminary of the Southwest
- Southwestern University
- St. Edward's University
Utah
- University of Utah
- Westminster College
Vermont
- Bennington College
- Castleton University
- Champlain College
- Landmark College
- Middlebury College
- Norwich University
- Saint Michael's College
- School for International Training
- University of Vermont
- Vermont Law School
- Vermont State Colleges system
- Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, Vermont Technical College
Virginia
- Bridgewater College
- Chamberlain University
- Hollins University
- Mary Baldwin University
- Marymount University
- Norfolk State University
- Sweet Briar College
- Union Presbyterian Seminary
- University of Richmond
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia Wesleyan University
- Washington and Lee University
- William & Mary
Washington
- Antioch University at Seattle
- Bastyr University
- Bellevue College
- Central Washington University
- Columbia Basin College
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Eastern Washington University
- Evergreen State College
- Gonzaga University
- Highline College
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Pacific Northwest University
- Saint Martin's University
- Seattle Colleges system
- Central, North, South
- Seattle Film Institute
- Seattle Pacific University
- Seattle University
- Tacoma Community College
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Washington system
- Bothell, Seattle, Tacoma
- Western Washington University
- Whitman College
- Whitworth University
West Virginia
- University of Charleston
Wisconsin
- Alverno College
- Beloit College
- Carthage College
- Lawrence University
- Marquette University
- Ripon College
Wyoming
Don't see your school on this list? Reach out to contact@support.bestcolleges.com if your college or university plans to require the COVID-19 vaccine. Please include the relevant announcement link or email.
Note that this list covers COVID-19 vaccine requirements for 2022-2023 on-campus or residential students and does not specify individual university policies such as vaccine exemptions. Some colleges may require all students, regardless of their residential status, to get vaccinated. Faculty and staff vaccine requirements may be different from the residential student requirements listed above.
Feature Image: Halfpoint Images / Moment / Getty Images
