Sterling College

16 Sterling Drive
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827-0072
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Tel: (802) 586-7711
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  • 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 116 students (91% of students are full-time).
  • The college's student:teacher ratio of 7:1 is lower than the state community college average of 19:1.
  • Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 22%.
  • Sterling College is the only community colleges within Orleans County, VT.
  • The nearest community college to Sterling College is Woodbury College (27.4 miles away).

Top Placements

Sterling College places among the top 20% of community colleges in Vermont for:

School Overview

  • The teacher population of 16 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Sterling College(VT) Community College Avg.
Carnegie ClassificationBaccalaureate / Associates CollegesBaccalaureate / Associates Colleges
Institution LevelLess than 2 yrsLess than 2 yrs
Institution ControlPublicPrivate, non-profit
Total Faculty16 staff81 staff
This chart display total faculty of Sterling College and community college average number of faculty in VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.

Student Body

  • The student population of Sterling College has stayed relatively flat over five years.
  • The student:teacher ratio of 7:1 has stayed the same over five years.
  • The Sterling College diversity score of 0.54 is more than the state average of 0.38. The school's diversity has declined by 22% over five years.
Total Enrollment116 students482 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Sterling College and community college average number of enrollment of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio7:119:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Sterling College and community college average student staff ratio of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Full-Time Students106 students369 students
This chart display the total number of Full-Time students enrollment of Sterling College and average number of community college Full-Time students enrollment of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
# Part-Time Students10 students113 students
This chart display the total number of Part-Time students enrollment of Sterling College and average number of community college Part-Time students enrollment of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
This chart display the Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Sterling College.This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of VT.
% Asian		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Sterling College and the percentage of Asian community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data.
% Hispanic		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Sterling College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2011-12 school year data.
% Black		-
2%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Sterling College and the percentage of Black community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2011-12 school year data.
% White
54%
78%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Sterling College and the percentage of White community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Two or more races
6%
1%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Sterling College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Unknown races
40%
12%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Sterling College.This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in VT.
Diversity Score0.540.38
This chart display the diversity score of Sterling College and the community college average diversity score of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)$26,500$33,600

Finances and Admission

  • The public in-state tuition of $33,492 is more than the state average of $15,538. The in-state tuition has grown by 21% over four years.
  • The public out-state tuition of $33,492 is more than the state average of $19,241. The out-state tuition has grown by 21% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees$33,492$15,538
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Sterling College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees$33,492$19,241
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Sterling College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid100%89%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Sterling College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in VT by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates$17,750$16,000
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Sterling College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in VT by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts$6,102$6,102
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Sterling College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in VT by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
Acceptance Rate99%83%
This chart display the percent admitted of Sterling College and the community college average percent admitted of VT by year, with the latest 2015-16 school year data.
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) 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 Woodbury College (27.4 miles away).
  • College Location Mi. Students
  • Woodbury College
    Private, non-profit
    132 students | 27.40 Mi660 Elm St
    Montpelier,  VT  05602
    (802) 229-0516     27.40132
  • New England Culinary Institute
    New England Culinary Institute Photo - Reviewing the menu with the chef before service.
    Private, for profit
    422 students | 28.80 Mi56 College Street
    Montpelier,  VT  05602
    (802) 223-6324     28.80422
  • Community College of Vermont
    Community College of Vermont Photo
    Public
    5,844 students | 40.90 Mi1 Abenaki Way
    Winooski,  VT  05404
    (802) 828-2800     40.905,844
  • Champlain College
    Private, non-profit
    3,585 students | 42.30 Mi246 S. Willard St
    Burlington,  VT  05401
    (802) 860-2700     42.303,585
  • Clinton Community College
    Public
    1,868 students | 52.00 Mi136 Clinton Point Dr
    Plattsburgh,  NY  12901
    52.001,868
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Quick Stats (2020-21)
  • Students: 116 students
  • In-state tuition: $33,492
  • Out-state tuition: $33,492
  • Acceptance Rate: 99%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 7:1
  • Minority enrollment: 46%
Did You Know?
For Vermont public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $15,538 per year for in-state students and $19,241 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $41,540 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Vermont community colleges have a diversity score of 0.38, which is lower than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in Vermont is Sterling College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.
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