Sterling College

16 Sterling Drive
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
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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 136 students (80% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 9:1 is lower than the state community college average of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 29%.

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 LevelFour or more yearsFour or more years
Institution ControlPrivate not-for-profitPrivate not-for-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 2018-19 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Sterling College has grown by 17% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 9:1 has increased from 6:1 over five years.
The Sterling College diversity score of 0.54 is more than the state average of 0.48. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment136 students519 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Sterling College and community college average number of enrollment of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio9:114:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Sterling College and community college average student staff ratio of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
# Full-Time Students109 students337 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 2018-19 school year data.
# Part-Time Students27 students182 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 2018-19 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.
Total Dormitory Capacity		118510
This chart display the dormitory capacity of Sterling College and the community college average dormitory capacity of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Sterling College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% 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
3%
5%
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 2018-19 school year data.
% Black
1%
5%
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 2018-19 school year data.
% White
59%
71%
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 2018-19 school year data.
% Hawaiian
1%
-
% Two or more races
1%
4%
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 2018-19 school year data.
% Non Resident races
1%
4%
% Unknown races
33%
8%
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 Score0.540.48
This chart display the diversity score of Sterling College and the community college average diversity score of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)$26,500$33,600

Finances and Admission

The private state tuition of $33,492 is less than the state average of $38,857. The private state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees$33,492$38,857
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Sterling College and the private community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid100%95%
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 2018-19 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates$22,550$14,750
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 2017-18 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts$7,146$7,146
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 2017-18 school year data.
Acceptance Rate93%68%
This chart display the percent admitted of Sterling College and the community college average percent admitted of VT by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Source: 2019 (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
    73 students | 28.80 Mi7 School Street
    Montpelier,  VT  05602
    (802) 223-6324     28.8073
  • Community College of Vermont
    Community College of Vermont Photo
    Public
    5,378 students | 40.90 Mi660 Elm Street
    Montpelier,  VT  05602
    (802) 828-4060     40.905,378
  • Champlain College
    Private not-for-profit
    4,531 students | 42.30 Mi163 S Willard St
    Burlington,  VT  05401
    (802) 860-2700     42.304,531
  • Clinton Community College
    Public
    1,353 students | 52.00 Mi136 Clinton Point Dr.
    Plattsburgh,  NY  12901
    (518) 562-4200     52.001,353
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Quick Stats (2021)
  • Students: 136 students
  • Private-state tuition: $33,492
  • Acceptance Rate: 93%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 9:1
  • Minority enrollment: 41%
Did You Know?
For Vermont public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $6,566 per year for in-state students and $12,130 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $38,857 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Vermont community colleges have a diversity score of 0.48, which is lower than the national average of 0.73. The most diverse community college in Vermont is New England Culinary Institute. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.
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