UVM has an outstanding environmental science program. As state universities go, it’s modest in size, and it’s in what’s generally regarded as one of the great college towns. In many ways, attending UVM is more like going to a private college than a public college because more than 70% of the students are from out of state. Academics are top notch. It was one of the 9 colleges included on the original list of “public Ivies”.
Yes, it’s remote when you’re coming up from downstate, closer to Montreal than to NYC. It’s probably an hour longer drive than Syracuse. Boston and DC are closer, but traffic delays can make the drive to both take just as long. Amtrak plans to open rail service to Burlington in a year (spring, 2022). Or you can fly. It’s closer than Buffalo. Or Rochester.
Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, there’s Amtrak service to the little hamlet of Port Kent, NY, which is the ferry slip across the lake from Burlington. So, even when you arrive next August, you could take a train trip up to Montreal if the spirit moves you. The Amtrak along the length of Lake Champlain in NY is one of the most beautifully scenic train rides anywhere. Or you can ride the ferry back and forth just for the breathtaking views of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains as well as the scenic lake views. The ferry takes cars, so if you have one, you can drive over to Lake Placid, less than an hour from the ferry. Or you can visit Ausable Chasm, “the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks”, 3 miles down the road from the ferry.
Not as cheap as Binghamton but nowhere near as expensive as Northeastern. Ben & Jerry’s is in Burlington. (I’m sure you’ve heard that before.) And so is Bernie.