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Introduction to Sterling

Environmental Studies in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Sterling College is a small, progressive, liberal arts college in northern Vermont, in the heart of a rural region called the Northeast Kingdom. Sterling is unique in many ways, among them our small size, our environmental focus, and our commitment to grassroots sustainability.

Sterling is also a year-round college, conducting three full semesters - fall, spring, and summer. Sterling students can begin in any semester, take any semester off, and still maintain full-time status. Many go to school year-round and have the opportunity to graduate in fewer than four years.

Academics at Sterling combine theory and practice to instill a sense of environmental stewardship and prepare students for careers that require both a college education and direct experience. Frequent field trips and hands-on learning opportunities balance and inform traditional classroom academics. Ninety percent of Sterling graduates find jobs or enter graduate school within six months of graduation, and the overwhelming majority of graduates find jobs that relate to their academic area of study.

Sterling is one of only seven Work-Learning-Service colleges in the nation. Those three words - Work-Learning-Service - define how Sterling views the world, how we judge ourselves, and how we wish to be judged by others. All students work on campus, earning a portion of their tuition fees while serving the community.

When asked why they chose Sterling, most students talk about the importance of community. We believe that a strong and supportive community is an essential foundation for sustainability, and we strive to prioritize community in everything we do. The other thing students mention is the superb food - our dining hall serves the most delicious meals you will ever find on a college campus.

Our Admissions Team welcomes your inquiries. Please take a moment to introduce yourself, and if you can, we encourage you to come to Craftsbury Common, Vermont, and experience Sterling College for yourself.

Quick Glance Sterling Facts

The Facts:

Typical Class Size —10

Student to Faculty Ratio — 6.5 to 1

Enrolled Students— 125 max

Male-Female Ratio — 5 to 4

Student Body — 24% Vermont, 56% New England, 44% Outside New England

Scholarships— $500 to Full Tuition

Need Based Grants— Up to $15,000

Accreditation — New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) 1987

The Numbers:

20% —Percentage of food served in the dining hall grown on the Sterling Farm.

130 —Number of acres of Sterling campus.

300 — Number of acres of our boreal research forest.

31 — Number of years the Sterling Farm has been in operation.

20 — Number of countries students have visited through our internship program.

16 — Number of buildings on campus.

12 — Number of years Sterling has been a four-year baccalaureate college.

9 — Number of countries you can visit through our Global Field Studies program.

4 — Number of ski areas within 45 minutes of the College.

Areas of Study

Sustainable Agriculture: The Sterling Farm is your classroom, the faculty your mentors, and the countryside your lab. Engage in the full spectrum of a liberal arts approach to agriculture education and regional food systems.

Conservation Ecology: Conservation Ecology is the study of relationships between living things and the environment. Focus on resource policy, environmental monitoring, watershed and wildlife management, and environmental education.

Outdoor Education: Combine educational and leadership theory with technical outdoor travel and adventure skills. Explore ethical controversies, risk management, and gender dynamics and practice teaching skills and expedition management.

Natural History: Follow the rich tradition of weaving together the natural sciences and environmental humanities. Natural History courses sharpen identification and classification skills to help students understand the interplay of climate, geology, soil formation, and the life histories of plants and animals.

Environmental Humanities: Draw from new and practiced skills in nature writing, journalism, farmstead crafts, poetry, and the visual arts to explore broadly cultural and ecological perspectives. Core topics include environmental history and justice, the theory and practice of advocacy, and the literary and artistic approach to nature.

Northern Studies: Combine classroom and field-based studies, independent projects and guided research to explore the resource rich environment of the northern world. Field courses are integral to understanding the indigenous cultures of the north and the environmental challenges they face in an era of climate change and resource competition.

Mission Statement:

The Sterling College community combines structured academic study with experiential challenges and plain hard work to build responsible problem solvers who become stewards of the environment as they pursue productive lives.

Video Introduction:

Costs and Financial Aid:

Our 2011 tuition per semester is $13,401.

There's no getting around the fact that a college education is a big investment, but Sterling is committed to making college as affordable as possible. We offer numerous grants and scholarships, along with generous financial aid packages.

Please visit our tuition and fees page for details, and feel free to get in touch to discuss financial issues. We will do our best to work with you to make a Sterling Education possible.

Accreditation

Full accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges was granted in 1987.