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PrivateRural

Sterling College

Craftsbury Common, Vermont 05827-0072

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Sciences-focusedTight-knitRuralSports culture

Known for biology — close-knit campus

Sterling College is a private rural institution in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 66 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

43% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $30,573 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $30,785.

Established
1958
Motto
Ecological Thinking and Action
Type
Private work college

Campus Visits

62 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Special Event

Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

125 North Main Street, Craftsbury Common, VT 05827

(802) 586-7711[email protected]
92%Acceptance
SAT Avg
66Students
9:1Student:Faculty
43%Grad Rate
$30,573Earnings 10yr
$30,785Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate92.3%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalTracks InterestHolistic ReviewOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common App

Early Action

November 15

Regular Decision

rolling

Decision by rolling

Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships
Students receiving aid
98%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$40,760
Room & Board$10,950
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$52,300
Average Net Price$30,785
Median Debt at Graduation$23,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$244

Net Price by Family Income

$30–48K$13,954
$48–75K$32,290
$75–110K$40,040
$110K+$33,820

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

64.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

1.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$13,625

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

0

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

0

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

0

Drug Arrests

0

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Semester
Majors
8
Avg class size
8
Student-faculty ratio
5:1
Study abroad
20%

Programs (4)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

30%

Below Average

Campus Life

Campus size
430 acres
Organizations
20+
NoneNo Greek Life

Focus on outdoor recreation rather than competitive athletics

Housing & Residential Life

4-Year Housing Guarantee
On campus
95%

Housing Styles

Traditional residence hallsShared housesCampus cabins

Dining

Sterling Dining HallFarm-to-TableDietary Options

Food sourced from campus garden and local farms

Student Body

Undergrads
66
Gender Split
55% / 45%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
35%

Race & Ethnicity

White 73%
Hispanic 5%
Asian 3%
Two+ 11%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate42.9%
Freshman Retention30.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$27,109
10 Years$30,573

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History Sterling School was founded as a boys' college preparatory school in 1958.
  • College (1974–2026) In 1974, Sterling School was faced with closure and a small group of faculty launched the educational model that became Sterling College.
  • In 1974, a small group of faculty established an academic year-long program similar to Outward Bound programs known as Grassroots Project in Vermont at Sterling Institute.
  • Since 1997, Sterling College has been accredited as a four-year college.
  • Sterling College joined the Work Colleges Consortium in 1999.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from KS state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K
172 mi(298 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
284 mi(492 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
354 mi(614 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

BTV Burlington40 mi
PWM Portland Jetport124 mi
MHT Manchester-Boston128 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA172 mi · ~4h 58m drive
New York, NY284 mi · ~8h 12m drive
Hartford, CT200 mi · ~5h 47m drive
Providence, RI201 mi · ~5h 48m drive
Albany, NY154 mi · ~4h 27m drive
Syracuse, NY218 mi · ~6h 18m drive
Rochester, NY280 mi · ~8h 5m drive
Buffalo, NY346 mi · ~10h drive
Philadelphia, PA354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Pittsburgh, PA484 mi · ~13h 59m drive
Harrisburg, PA380 mi · ~10h 59m drive
Newark, NJ285 mi · ~8h 14m drive
Trenton, NJ329 mi · ~9h 30m drive
Northern (cold winters, cool summers)

Visit Planning

Nearby Attractions

Craftsbury Commonwalkable

Historic Vermont village with general store and community center

Craftsbury Outdoor Centerwalkable

Premier Nordic skiing and sculling center

Kingdom Trails

World-class mountain biking trail network nearby

Lake Willoughby

Glacial lake for swimming and recreation

Transfer Admission

International Students

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL iBT70
IELTS6.0
Duolingo English Test95

Deadline Calendar

Sterling College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications