Plymouth vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Plymouth State University is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (3,707 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Plymouth State University is located in Plymouth, NH (Remote Town setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Plymouth State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Plymouth State University 15:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Plymouth vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Plymouth 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 Plymouth State University than Sterling College ($20,183 vs. $21,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 16.8% lower than at Plymouth State University ($10,950 vs. $13,158).
• Sterling College is 178.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plymouth (about $26,134 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $14,626.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.4% higher at Sterling College than at Plymouth State University (about $15,194 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $25,566.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Plymouth State University as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 194.9% larger than aid received by Plymouth State University students ($32,556 vs. $11,039).

Plymouth vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Plymouth 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 Plymouth.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Plymouth - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Plymouth Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Sterling College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Plymouth (3.08).
• Plymouth has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at Plymouth vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Plymouth vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Plymouth 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).

• Plymouth State University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than Plymouth graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Plymouth graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plymouth 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.