Keystone College vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Keystone College in La Plume, PA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Keystone College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (952 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Keystone College is located in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Keystone College 12:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Keystone College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Keystone College 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 Keystone College ($21,854 vs. $21,952).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 13.1% lower than at Keystone College ($10,950 vs. $12,600).
• Sterling College is 122.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Keystone College (about $22,460 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 122.7% higher at Sterling College than at Keystone College (about $22,460 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Keystone College (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 221.7% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($32,556 vs. $10,119).

Keystone College vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Keystone College 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 Keystone College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Keystone College 910/1130.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Keystone College - Test optional; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Sterling College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• Keystone College has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at Keystone College vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Keystone College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Keystone College 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 Keystone College's (39%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $8,965 lower median loan debt than Keystone College graduates ($17,035 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Keystone College graduates ($176 vs. $268).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

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.