Sterling College
- The Sterling College community combines structured academic study with experiential challenges and plain hard work to build responsible problems solvers who become stewards of the environment as they pursue productive lives.
School Highlights
Sterling College serves 146 students (77% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 3:1 is lower than the state community college average of 9:1.
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), which is more than the state average of 25%.
Quick Stats (2022-23)
- Enrollment: 146 students
- Private-state tuition: $33,492
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Student:teacher ratio: 3:1
- Minority enrollment: 39%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Sterling College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Vermont for:
Category
Attribute
School Overview
The teacher population of 46 teachers has grown by 155% over five years.
Sterling College
(VT) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Institution Level
Four or more years
Four or more years
Institution Control
Private not-for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Total Faculty
46 staff
270 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Sterling College has grown by 25% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 3:1 has decreased from 6:1 over five years.
The Sterling College diversity score of 0.57 is more than the state average of 0.42. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
146 students
1,422 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
3:1
9:1
# Full-Time Students
112 students
751 students
# Part-Time Students
34 students
671 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
118 students
494 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
2%
2%
% Hispanic
3%
5%
% Black
1%
4%
% White
61%
75%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%
% Non Resident races
5%
2%
% Unknown races
23%
8%
Diversity Score
0.57
0.42
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) (Year 2008)
$26,500
$33,600
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The private state tuition of $33,492 is less than the state average of $38,857. The private state tuition has declined by 8% over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees
$33,492
$38,857
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
95%
95%
Median Debt for Graduates
$18,133
$14,250
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
86%
67%
SAT Reading
n/a
455
SAT Math
n/a
485
SAT Writing
n/a
435
ACT Composite
n/a
21
ACT English
n/a
19
ACT Math
n/a
21
Source: 2020 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
School Notes
- Sterling was founded by Norman Rioux in 1958 as a boys' college preparatory school. It was named after Margaret Sterling, the deceased wife of Douglas Field. Mr. Field was one of several Berkshire School (MA) faculty members who came here with Mr. Rioux. When the alternative preparatory school market waned in the early 1970s, Sterling was well positioned to respond creatively. First came the Academic Short Course in Outdoor Leadership, a 21-day program for 13 to 16 year olds. It brought hundreds of young people to Sterling for an intense winter learning experience. The Short Course solidified women's presence on campus to share equally in the benefits of a Sterling education. An extension of this idea became the year-long Grassroots project, an immediate success that led Sterling into the world of higher education. Sterling's first Associate of Arts Degree in Resource Management was awarded in 1982. Full accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges was granted in 1987. Several members of the Grassroots Faculty continue to teach at the College today. Facilities on the hundred-plus acre Sterling College campus include fourteen residential, administrative, and classroom buildings, a woodworking shop, and library. Outdoor teaching facilities include a managed woodlot, a challenge course, a 30-foot climbing tower, organic gardens, and a working livestock farm with two solar/wind powered barns. Much of what is grown and raised is consumed in the dining hall. The Center for Northern Studies at Sterling College includes a 300-acre boreal wetland and a building containing a library, science lab, seminar rooms, offices, and central lounge. Sterling College offers bachelor's degrees in Conservation Ecology, Outdoor Education and Leadership, Northern Studies, Self-Designed Studies and Sustainable Agriculture.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Sterling College is Community College of Vermont (40.9 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Students
660 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-4060
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-4060
40.9 miles
| 5,104 students
Champlain College
Private not-for-profit
163 S Willard St
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 860-2700
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 860-2700
42.3 miles
| 4,385 students
136 Clinton Point Dr.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 562-4200
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 562-4200
52.0 miles
| 1,250 students
124 Admin Drive
Randolph, VT 05061
(802) 728-1000
Randolph, VT 05061
(802) 728-1000
52.4 miles
| 1,704 students
2020 Riverside Drive
Berlin, NH 03570
(603) 752-1113
Berlin, NH 03570
(603) 752-1113
61.1 miles
| 697 students
Recent Articles
An In-Depth Guide to Financing Options for Community College
Attending college is expensive but there are options for financing beyond just student loans. Keep reading to learn more.
Do You Need to Take the GRE for Community College Applications?
No matter where you choose to go to college you'll have to take some kind of standardized test. The GRE is often required for graduate programs, but it may also benefit your community college application.
Tips for Minimizing Educational Debt While in School
Education becomes more expensive with each passing year so it is important to make smart use of your student loans and to minimize your debt while you are in school whenever possible.
