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Sterling College

Liaison Partner

Sterling , KS

Sterling College is a small, liberal arts college located in Craftsbury, Vermont, known for its emphasis on environmental stewardship and a commitment to sustainable living. Established in 1958, Sterling College has a unique educational model that integrates academics, work experience, and community involvement.

One of the key defining features of Sterling College is its focus on ecological thinking and sustainable practices. The college's curriculum is centered around environmental studies, with majors such as Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Sustainable Agriculture, and Outdoor Education. Students at Sterling College are encouraged to engage with their natural surroundings and learn hands-on skills in organic farming, forestry, and renewable energy.

The college also boasts a distinctive featureùits commitment to experiential learning and work-based education. Sterling College follows a semester-based schedule, with students spending their time both in the classroom and out in the field. Through its Work Program, students have the opportunity to work on campus or in the local community, which not only helps cover their tuition expenses, but also provides them with valuable practical skills and real-life work experience.

In addition to its academic focus, Sterling College fosters a close-knit community with a strong sense of environmental responsibility. The campus itself is a living laboratory for sustainable living practices, with green buildings, composting systems, and a student-run farm. The college also hosts numerous workshops, events, and conferences centered around sustainability and ecological thinking. Overall, Sterling College offers a unique and immersive educational experience for students passionate about the environment and sustainable living.

Sterling College is a private four-year college located in Sterling, KS and set in a rural environment. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 89%. The freshman retention rate at Sterling College is 50% and the six-year graduation rate is 40%.

To find out more about what Sterling College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.

Quick Facts

670

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$33,000

Tuition

8:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

40%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Here are the most essential facts you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Sterling College.

According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 395 in 2025. Sterling College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.

Test Scores

Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 16% and ACT scores 20%. 36.8% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 42.1% between 1,000 and 1,199, 15.8% of the students between 800 and 999, and 5.3% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 4.2, 12.5 between 24-29, 75 in the range between 18-23, and 8.3 between 12-17.

The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.35. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.

The SAT Critical Reading average score was 590 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 550.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.

As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Sterling College was 50%.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 40%.

Student Body

Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.

Main Student Body

In 2025, the school enrolled 694 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 64% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 670, 61 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 55 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 309 male and 212 female full-time students in 2025.

Student Population Diversity

In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.

In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 3, while the number of Afro-American students was 52. 94 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 31 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 1 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 13 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.

Tuition and Fees

Wondering about tuition at Sterling College? Here is what you need to know.

In 2025, tuition amounted to $33,000 for all full-time domestic students. Since Sterling College is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,200.

Books and Supplies

Another important expense to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,383.

Boarding

Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for room and board?

In 2025, the price of room and board at Sterling College was $9,674 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $3,916, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $5,209.

Tuition $ 33,000
Room and Board $ 9,674
Book and Supplies $ 1,383
Total Expense $ 44,057

Financial Aid

There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Sterling College, here are some recent data you should consider.

According to the most recent data, 57 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $27,033.

Need-based

If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.

There were 342 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Sterling College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 359. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $1,282,412, and state $666,321.

$13,607

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $1,070,588. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $632,901 USD.

Open Applications

Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.

The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)

Summer 2026

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Fall 2026

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Spring 2026

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Majors

Faculty

8:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.

In 2025, this ratio at Sterling College was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 105. Out of that number, there were 53 men and 52 women.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
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100

Campus Life

Not everything at Sterling College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about social life at Sterling College.

Its campus is 46 acres in size.

Student Organizations

Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.

There are 18 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Theatre at Sterling College, followed by Student Leadership Association and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Other popular organizations among the students at Sterling College are Campus Activities Ministries and Student Government Association.

For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Sterling College publishes its own newspaper.

Student Services

At Sterling College, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.

The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.

There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Sterling College.

All in all, campus life at Sterling College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Sterling College.

Career Counselling

At Sterling College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

Job Placement

Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.

The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 45,000 USD.

$45,000

Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation

FAQ

Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS.

Sterling College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.

According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 33,000 USD per academic year for Sterling College.

This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for Sterling College is 89%.

The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Sterling College is 50%.

Contact Information

Sterling College

125 West Cooper

Sterling , KS

67579

620 278-2173

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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