Norwich was the first private military college in the United States, the first college to offer engineering courses to civilians, and the first school to offer military training to women when Norwich merged with Vermont College in 1972. Vermont College was founded in 1834 as New-bury Seminary and went through a series of transformations since. In 1994, Norwich dedicated its Vermont Campus uniquely to its adult low residency programs, which include the Adult Degree Program, the Graduate Program, the MFA in Writing, the MFA in Visual Arts and the Master of Arts in Art Therapy. Today, Norwich offers its students the choice of two lifestyles. Students in the Corps of Cadets lead a disciplined life and are enrolled in one of three ROTC units representing all branches of the armed services.
Cilvilian students lead a traditional collegiate lifestyle.