Paul Smith's College vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (948 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Paul Smith's College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smith's College ($21,854 vs. $28,443).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 23.1% lower than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($10,950 vs. $14,236).
• Sterling College is 23.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $7,751 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.5% higher at Sterling College than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $7,751 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 41.7% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($32,556 vs. $22,973).

Paul Smith's College vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smith's College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paul Smith's College - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Sterling College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Paul Smith's College vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Paul Smith's College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $7,965 lower median loan debt than Paul Smith's College graduates ($17,035 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Paul Smith's College graduates ($176 vs. $258).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paul Smith's College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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.