Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
California College of the Arts Ringling College of Art and Design Art Center College of Design Juilliard Otis College of Art and Design UCLA Southern California Institute of Technology SCAD RISD Cal State LA USC UArts| California Institute of the Arts | Sterling College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
| Location | Valencia, CA | Craftsbury Common, VT | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Remote Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 1,353 | 78 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | calarts.edu | sterlingcollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,074 | $40,560 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,074 | $40,560 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,820 | $10,950 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $57,288 | $30,785 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,071 | $21,515 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 100% |
Admission |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,023 | 52 | ||
| Admitted | 525 | 48 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 26% | 92.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.7% | 14.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 5, 2026 |
Academics |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 7:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,400 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $28,500 | $17,035 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $294 | $176 |
Diversity |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 42% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 0% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 6% |
Students |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 32% | 0% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 38% | 100% | ||
Campus |
CalArts | Sterling College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California Institute of the Arts is larger than than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,353 students vs. 78 students)
CalArts vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Sterling College?
- California Institute of the Arts is 38.2% more expensive to attend than Sterling College for in-state tuition ($56,074.00 vs. $40,560.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.2% higher at CalArts than Sterling College ($56,074.00 vs. $40,560.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than CalArts ($30,785 vs. $57,288)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 17.1% lower than costs at California Institute of the Arts ($10,950 vs. $12,820)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 2.6% larger than aid received Sterling College ($22,071 vs. $21,515)
CalArts vs. Sterling College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Sterling College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sterling College or CalArts .
- Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than CalArts (26%)
CalArts vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CalArts or Sterling College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sterling College and CalArts.
- The graduation rate at CalArts is higher than Sterling College (65% vs. 50%)
- Sterling College students graduate with a $11,465 lower median federal student loan debt than CalArts graduates. ($17,035 vs. $28,500)
- Sterling College graduates are paying $118 less per month on federal student loans than CalArts graduates. ($176 vs. $294)
- More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/