Art Center College of Design vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Sterling College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Art Center College of Design ($21,854 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 44.2% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($10,950 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 32.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $13,410 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.9% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Sterling College (about $13,410 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 45.3% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($32,556 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Sterling College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sterling College and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Art Center College of Design vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Sterling College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Art Center College of Design's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $14,215 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($17,035 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $147 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($176 vs. $323).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.