California College of the Arts vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Sterling College 7:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts ($21,854 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 50.5% lower than at California College of the Arts ($10,950 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 47.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $19,466 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.8% higher at California College of the Arts than at Sterling College (about $19,466 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($32,953 vs. $32,556).

California College of the Arts vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

California College of the Arts vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts 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).

• Sterling College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $10,965 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($17,035 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($176 vs. $289).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

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.