Sterling College

In 2016, tuition for full-time students at Sterling College was $39,000 a year.

Tuition was the same price in 2023 as it was the year before. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this information makes going to college feel scary, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't always give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students owe much less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until you're done with college.

Sterling College meets 87% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Sterling College full-time are awarded $28,620 a year in financial aid, on average.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $35,937 in student loans for each student with debt.

Does Sterling College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Sterling College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Vermont as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Attending a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can save students a lot of money on the overall cost of college. Be sure to verify your state's requirements for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Vermont colleges

Tuition for International Students at Sterling College

Tuition at Sterling College is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Sterling College:

•On-campus jobs •Sterling College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Sterling College Room, Board, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Sterling College.

House and Food Costs at Sterling College

Housing and campus dining at Sterling College costs $10,400 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that enables you to eat in the school dining halls.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Sterling College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools offer ways so that those with financial need to get help covering these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Sterling College

The total cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area could be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Sterling College campus is in a rural area in Vermont.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

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Financial Breakdown for Sterling College

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Sterling College.

How Much Does Sterling College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Sterling College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$39,000
Room and Board	$10,400

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$49,600
Off-Campus	$39,200

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Sterling College Financial Aid

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The majority of Sterling College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 72 of the 139 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Sterling College meets 87% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $28,620 a year. Around 91% of Sterling College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Sterling College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $35,937 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$35,937
Private Loans	$0

Most Common Loans for Sterling College Students
Federal Loans	91%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Sterling College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Sterling College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Sterling College awarded 72 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $2.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $130,000 in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Sterling College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Sterling College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Sterling College was $28,620 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Sterling College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$20,980
Off-Campus	$10,580

What will attending Sterling College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Sterling College's net cost calculator on their website.

Sterling College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Sterling College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Sterling College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Sterling College's endowment was valued at $1.3 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. The school spends $14,981 for each full-time student enrolled.

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Learn More About Sterling College

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Overview

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