McDaniel College vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

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

McDaniel College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Sterling College 7:1.

McDaniel College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel 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 McDaniel College ($21,854 vs. $24,497).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 15.6% lower than at McDaniel College ($10,950 vs. $12,974).
• McDaniel College is 27.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $11,321 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.8% higher at McDaniel College than at Sterling College (about $11,321 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 25.1% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($40,721 vs. $32,556).

McDaniel College vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman McDaniel College students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

McDaniel College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel 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).

• McDaniel College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than McDaniel College graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McDaniel College graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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.