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Sterling College : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

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About Sterling College

Set on a classic Vermont green, Sterling College is known for roll-up-your-sleeves learning in the natural and working landscapes. Academics lean into ecology, sustainable agriculture, and the ties between people, land, and food. Classes spill into fields and forests; a working farm and gardens serve as living classrooms. Students find close advising, a small library and labs, field-study tools, and practical support that feels personal.

Life here runs on community. Shared meals, campus work, and seasonal farm traditions shape a culture that's earnest, collaborative, and a little muddy in the best way. Weekends mean nearby trails, lakes, and a town that welcomes student projects. Career prep centers on real experience through placements with farms, conservation groups, and food nonprofits, guided by faculty mentors and local practitioners.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location: 16 Sterling Drive, Craftsbury Common, Vermont, 05827, USA
Phone: +1 (802) 586-7711
Website: sterlingcollege.edu
Unit ID: 231095

Academic & Institutional

Control: Private non-profit institution (tuition + donations)
Accreditation: NECHE
Length of Study: Programs under 2 years (e.g. certificate or diploma)
Calendar System: Semester system (two main terms per year)
Award Levels: Bachelor's
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Baccalaureate - Diverse Fields
Campus Setting: Located in a remote rural area (25+ miles from urban area)
Tuition: In-state: $40,760 (Tuition $40,560 + Fee $200) · Out-of-state: $40,760 (Tuition $40,560 + Fee $200)
Student Profile:
Total Students: 78
Undergraduate: 66
Graduate/Other: 12
Male: 36 Female: 42
Applications:
Total Applicants: 52
Admitted: 48
Enrolled: 7
Acceptance: 92.3% Yield: 14.6%
Staff:
Total: 37 Full-time: 25 Part-time: 12

Degree Programs & Career Salary Prospects

Explore degree programs offered at Sterling College with detailed career prospects, starting salary ranges, and job opportunities in Vermont. See what you can do with your degree and expected earnings after graduation.

How to use this guide:
Click on any academic field that interests you to expand and view available degree programs. Each program shows potential career paths, median salaries in Vermont vs national averages, and job prospects for graduates. Perfect for answering "What can I do with my degree?" and salary expectations.
Agriculture (1)
Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine
01.0308 Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. (Cert2y+)
A program that focuses on agricultural principles and practices that, over the long term, enhance environmental quality, make efficient use of nonrenewable resources, integrate natural biological cycles and controls, and are economically viable and socially responsible; and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of agricultural and environmental problems. Includes instruction in principles of agroecology, crop and soil sciences, entomology, horticulture, animal science, weed science and management, soil fertility and nutrient cycling, applied ecology, agricultural economics, and rangeland ecology and watershed management.

Graduate Career Earnings in Vermont

Average graduate salary for this degree:
SOC Code Occupation US National Vermont Avg VT vs US
11-9013 Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers $97,240 N/A N/A
19-1013 Soil and Plant Scientists $83,040 $68,810 -$14,230 (-17.1%)
19-1031 Conservation Scientists $74,310 $65,020 -$9,290 (-12.5%)
25-1041 Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary $97,790 $75,700 -$22,090 (-22.6%)
25-1043 Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary $103,780 N/A N/A
45-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers $63,360 $71,990 +$8,630 (+13.6%)
Biological Sciences (1)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
26.1301 Ecology. (Cert2y+)
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the relationships and interactions of small-scale biological systems, such as organisms, to each other, to complex and whole systems, and to the physical and other non-biological aspects of their environments. Includes instruction in biogeochemistry; landscape and/or marine/aquatic dynamics; decomposition; global and regional elemental budgets; biotic and abiotic regulation of nutrient cycles; ecophysiology; ecosystem resilience, disturbance, and succession; community and habitat dynamics; organismal interactions (co-evolution, competition, predation); paleoecology; and evolutionary ecology.

Graduate Career Earnings in Vermont

Average graduate salary for this degree:
SOC Code Occupation US National Vermont Avg VT vs US
11-9121 Natural Sciences Managers $173,500 $107,720 -$65,780 (-37.9%)
19-1023 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists $77,920 $77,050 -$870 (-1.1%)
19-1029 Biological Scientists, All Other $100,440 $79,850 -$20,590 (-20.5%)
19-1031 Conservation Scientists $74,310 $65,020 -$9,290 (-12.5%)
19-1099 Life Scientists, All Other $101,940 N/A N/A
25-1042 Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary $101,340 $85,130 -$16,210 (-16%)
25-1043 Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary $103,780 N/A N/A
Kinesiology (1)
Exercise Science, Sports Medicine and Physical Recreation
31.0601 Outdoor Education. (Cert2y+)
A program that prepares individuals to work as an educator, instructor or facilitator in parks, recreational facilities, camps and other outdoor settings. Includes instruction in leadership skills, wilderness survival skills, first aid, group processes, counseling techniques, environmental studies and instruction in recreational activities such as rock climbing, ropes courses, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing.

Graduate Career Earnings in Vermont

Average graduate salary for this degree:
SOC Code Occupation US National Vermont Avg VT vs US
39-1014 First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services $51,400 $51,470 +$70 (+0.1%)
39-9032 Recreation Workers $37,170 $39,760 +$2,590 (+7%)
Natural Resources (2)
Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management
03.0103 Environmental Studies. (Cert<2y, Cert2y+)
A program that focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination. Includes instruction in the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.

Graduate Career Earnings in Vermont

Average graduate salary for this degree:
SOC Code Occupation US National Vermont Avg VT vs US
13-1041 Compliance Officers $84,980 $80,250 -$4,730 (-5.6%)
19-2041 Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $88,640 $70,970 -$17,670 (-19.9%)
25-1053 Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary $100,360 $96,310 -$4,050 (-4%)
Liberal Arts (1)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
24.0199 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. (Cert2y+)
Any single instructional program in liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities not listed above.

Graduate Career Earnings in Vermont

Average graduate salary for this degree:
SOC Code Occupation US National Vermont Avg VT vs US
99-9999 NO MATCH N/A N/A N/A

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$54,410
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$54,410
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$40,760
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$40,760
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$10,950
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$1,500 (on) / $2,000 (off)
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$4,000
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
N/A
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
N/A
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

10%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$21,515
Avg. Loan
$2,750
Avg. Federal Loan
$2,750
Additional
Students with Any Grant
10
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
2
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
10
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$16,528
Average amount of institutional grant awarded
Show more financial aid data

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

43%
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
30%
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
Median Salary After 6 Years
$27,109
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$30,573
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
73.8%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
N/A
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$23,000
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Repayment by Dependency

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Sterling College

How much does it cost to attend Sterling College?

The annual tuition at Sterling College is $40,760 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $54,410 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $10,950 and books and supplies $1,200.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does Sterling College offer?

Sterling College offers 8 academic programs across 5 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's.

Most popular program areas include:

  • Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management (2 programs)
  • Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (1 programs)
  • Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities (1 programs)
  • Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (1 programs)
  • Exercise Science, Sports Medicine and Physical Recreation (1 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What is the acceptance rate for Sterling College?

Sterling College has an 92.3% acceptance rate and a 14.6% yield rate, making it moderately selective.

Admission statistics breakdown:

  • Total applicants: 52
  • Students admitted: 48
  • Students enrolled: 7

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at Sterling College?

Sterling College provides financial aid to 10% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $21,515 and average loans of $2,750.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $5,470
  • State/Local grants: $11,903
  • Institutional grants: $16,528
  • Federal loans: $2,750

The university supports 10 students with grants and 2 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for Sterling College graduates?

Sterling College graduates earn a median salary of $27,109 after 6 years and $30,573 after 10 years.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

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