Menlo vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Menlo College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (810 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Menlo vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($21,854 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 40% lower than at Menlo College ($10,950 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 31.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $12,870 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.6% higher at Menlo than at Sterling College (about $12,870 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 20.3% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($39,174 vs. $32,556).

Menlo vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Menlo students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• Menlo has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Menlo vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $4,027 lower median loan debt than Menlo graduates ($17,035 vs. $21,062).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Menlo graduates ($176 vs. $217).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 55%)

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.