CCS vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College for Creative Studies 10:1; Sterling College 7:1.

CCS vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS 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 CCS ($21,854 vs. $36,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 28.3% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($10,950 vs. $15,272).
• College for Creative Studies is 30.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $12,590 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at CCS than at Sterling College (about $12,590 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at College for Creative Studies (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 8.1% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($32,556 vs. $30,108).

CCS vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCS 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 CCS.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman CCS students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at CCS vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

CCS vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS 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).

• College for Creative Studies's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)

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.