Transfer Applicants

Are you ready for a new direction for your education?

Transfer to Sterling!

Do you want to be treated as a whole person instead of a number? Are you looking for a college community of likeminded individuals? Are you passionate about ecological thinking and action?

Apply Now!

If you’re thinking about transferring to Sterling College, know that you will be in good company. About half of our student body transferred here to study ecology, outdoor education, sustainable agriculture and food systems and environmental humanities.

Sterling College Homeschool Applicants We work hard to make the transfer admission process as smooth as possible. Transfer of credits, financial aid, and academic advising are highly personalized throughout the transfer process, and admission counselors are always happy to have a conversation about your unique academic background and future goals.

Sterling is an intergenerational community of learners, and people of all backgrounds and identities are welcome here. Whether you took a single dual enrollment college course in high school or are transferring in your senior year, you are welcome to this community exactly how you are.

Students who wish to transfer in credits from another college or university will need to submit official copies of transcripts for review by the Dean of Academics. Generally, if a student has earned a C or better in a course offered by an accredited college the credits will transfer to Sterling. Specific coursework from other colleges may fulfill equivalent requirements at Sterling. For example, an Ecology course may fulfill Sterling’s Ecology requirement. Credits earned via previous coursework that does not match up with the Sterling curriculum generally transfers to Sterling as electives, and may be incorporated in a self-designed major.

The average age of a Sterling student is 22 years old.

Transfer students who arrive with at least 60 credits are waived from several introductory courses.

Sterling maintains articulation agreements with the following community colleges and educational organizations:

Community College of Vermont
Greenfield Community College
Yestermorrow Design+Build School

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We don't know about you but we have been feeling especially bombarded this year between Black Friday and Cyber Monday -- both of which exacerbate the consumerism problem we have. Thus, we arrived to today feeling reluctant to participate in this year's #GivingTuesday -- just one more ask.

Then we looked at the Sterling calendar and what the College is holding space for.

Here we were reminded that Senior Symposia is this week where eight seniors will present on topics ranging from Aquatic Hyphomycetes of the Black River Watershed to Aesthetic and Practical Design of a Medicine Chest. This was a needed reflection of the good work our students are doing daily.

Tonight, three outdoor enthusiasts will sit on a youth panel about increasing inclusiveness and accessibility in the outdoors. Please join us at 6:30 on Zoom -- you can message us for the link.

All of this to say, this week is pretty emblematic of the good work the Sterling community embraces everyday and something worth putting our energy behind. Please join us in celebrating an education that empowers the next generation of thought leaders, system changers, and activists.

https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/sterlingcollege

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Sterling students and our Assistant Dean of Community, Kitty Ufford-Chase, marched in support of Migrant Justice's Milk with Dignity campaign to pressure Hannaford to sign the Milk with Dignity agreement. Signing means they would only sell milk that comes from farms that respect farmer worker rights and support decent living and working conditions. The march was held in Portland, Maine, where the Hannaford CEO resides.

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The 2021 Sustainable Campus Index by AASHE highlighted Sterling’s EcoGather education platform as an innovative and high-impact program. According to the report, EcoGather was selected for recognition based on “the level of innovation and overall impact in advancing sustainability, potential for replicability, and the added impacts this would present.”

The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Sterling has achieved and maintained a STARS Gold Rating since 2015.

Sterling’s EcoGather platform is a collaborative learning network dedicated to the vitality of ecosystems, communities, and economies that prepares learners at all stages of life to undertake or deepen active changemaking and caretaking work. “EcoGather is currently working with five partners across the world to support agro-ecological transition and equitable, resilient food systems,” according to Nicole Civita, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Sterling, “as well as offering online coursework to the public which is designed to build communities for learning and transformation as we address the climate crisis.”

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We're #4 overall by the 2021 Sustainable Campus Index from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Sterling is the only higher education institution in Vermont to rank in the top 10. The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Sterling has achieved and maintained a STARS Gold Rating since 2015.

“Congratulations to Sterling for their incredible sustainability accomplishments,” said AASHE’s Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “Upon reading the innovative and high-impact initiatives within this report, I’m encouraged that the global sustainability transformations that we desperately need is, in fact, happening.”

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Sterling College has been recognized among more than 550 colleges and universities in the 2021 Sustainable Campus Index from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) tying for second for sustainability curriculum. The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Sterling has achieved and maintained a STARS Gold Rating since 2015.

This #2 spot reflects Sterling's percentage of courses, programs, and learning outcomes offered to students with a sustainability focus; living laboratory initiatives; immersive experiences; sustainability literacy; and faculty development.

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Sterling College has been recognized among more than 550 colleges and universities as the #1 college for food and dining in the 2021 Sustainable Campus Index from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Sterling has achieved and maintained a STARS Gold Rating since 2015.

Credits are given based on a variety of data such as percentage of food and beverage products served that are sustainably or ethically produced, support of local and regional producers, and food and dining initiatives that support sustainable food systems and minimize food waste.

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Gabe Francisco came to the Wendell Berry Farming Program with a lot of baggage: clothes, books, computer stuff, a hand-made, hardwood oxen yolk, and a pair of Swiss Brown oxen named North and Star. He also had, under his belt, a childhood spent on a sixth-generation family farm in a southwestern Michigan town with the Andy-of-Mayberry name of Paw Paw, an award-winning record showing sheep at 4-H competitions, and professional experience as Shakespearean actor and a circus performer. In other words, not your average college junior.

This video was made possible by a generous donation from David Behrend ’60.

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Paul Borntraeger, Wendell Berry Farming Program student, talks about Wendell Berry being an inspiration for his passion of land stewardship. #wendellberryfarmingprogram

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How do we protect our waterways from grazing cattle? A question Wendell Berry Farming Program students of Sterling are working diligently at answering.

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Gabriel Francisco '21 transferred from a larger college setting because he felt like a number in the system. The Wendell Berry Farming Program not only provided Gabe with an education, it fostered a sense of community. We are launching Gabe's full story on Monday but wanted to give you a sneak peek. #wendellberryfarmingprogram

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As part of his senior project Bryan Emery has been giving the bike shop on campus new life and a much needed update. This included expanding the shop itself, getting a professional tool set, and reorganization of leftover parts and bikes left behind.

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Dig In!

Life Lessons Learned Through Foraging

Imagine you’re walking through the forest, the sun is peaking through the spruce stand lighting your way, the wind guides you with a cool and calming touch. I have walked…

Expedition 2014

2014 was the fiftieth anniversary of Expedition, the four-day, three-night camping trip that is the capstone of the Bounder I class. This year, President Matthew Derr joined 24 entering students…

You Can’t Spell “Charcuterie” Without “Cut”

Author Rowan Jacobsen said recently, “Salumi (aka charcuterie or cured meats) [are] the obvious next frontier in Vermont’s food revolution.” And for good reason. Cured meat right now is similar…

Are you ready for a new direction for your education?

Transfer to Sterling!

Meet the Staff:

Moxie Mehegan

Jimmy Clark

Barb Stuart

Amalia Harris

Life Lessons Learned Through Foraging

Expedition 2014

You Can’t Spell “Charcuterie” Without “Cut”

Transfer Applicants

Are you ready for a new direction for your education?

Transfer to Sterling!

Share It!

Meet the Staff:

Moxie Mehegan

Jimmy Clark

Barb Stuart

Amalia Harris

Life Lessons Learned Through Foraging

Expedition 2014

You Can’t Spell “Charcuterie” Without “Cut”