Hood vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Hood vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood 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 Hood ($21,854 vs. $23,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 32.4% lower than at Hood College ($10,950 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $6,940 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at Hood than at Sterling College (about $6,940 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Hood College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 16.6% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($37,957 vs. $32,556).

Hood vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood 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 Hood.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• Hood has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Hood vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood 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).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than Hood graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hood graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hood 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.