RIC vs. Sterling College

Rhode Island College and Sterling College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Rhode Island College
Sterling College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Sterling College (66.7% admitted vs 91.8%). Typical SAT N/A vs 1000.
  • Cheaper after aid: RIC. Average net price is $10,346 vs $21,854 at Sterling College.
  • Graduation: RIC 44% vs Sterling College 50%.
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Key differences

Rhode Island College Sterling College
Acceptance rate
Sterling College more selective
RIC91.8%
Sterling College66.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
RIC higher
RIC870-1120
Sterling College-
Average net price
RIC $11,508 less
RIC$10,346
Sterling College$21,854
In-state tuition
RIC $29,460 less
RIC$11,300
Sterling College$40,760
Out-of-state tuition
RIC $13,461 less
RIC$27,299
Sterling College$40,760
Graduation rate
Sterling College +6 pts
RIC44%
Sterling College50%
Median earnings (10 years)
RIC +$42,000
RIC$42,000
Sterling College-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • RIC 5,415
  • Sterling College 69
  • Admitted
  • RIC 4,972
  • Sterling College 46
  • Acceptance rate
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Sterling College 66.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Sterling College 10.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIC 1000
  • Sterling College
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIC
  • Sterling College
  • Average high school GPA
  • RIC 3.08
  • Sterling College 3.1
  • Typical high school grades
  • RIC B
  • Sterling College B
  • Admissions standards
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Sterling College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • RIC
  • Sterling College Low
  • SAT range
  • RIC 870-1120
  • Sterling College
  • ACT range
  • RIC
  • Sterling College
  • Submit test scores
  • RIC Test optional
  • Sterling College Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027
  • Sterling College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • RIC $11,300
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • RIC $27,299
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Room & board
  • RIC $13,414
  • Sterling College $10,950
  • Average net price
  • RIC $10,346
  • Sterling College $21,854
  • Average grant aid
  • RIC $6,706
  • Sterling College $32,556
  • % receiving grant aid
  • RIC 95%
  • Sterling College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • RIC 44%
  • Sterling College 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • RIC $42,000
  • Sterling College N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • RIC 59%
  • Sterling College 74%
  • Median student loan debt
  • RIC $21,200
  • Sterling College $17,035
  • Median loan payment
  • RIC $219
  • Sterling College $176
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • RIC 15:1
  • Sterling College 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Sterling College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
    • Biology (33%)
    • Agriculture (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Location
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Sterling College Craftsbury Common, VT
  • Setting
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Sterling College Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • RIC 6,155
  • Sterling College 57
  • Type
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • Sterling College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • RIC #843
  • Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island College in Providence, RI with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Rhode Island College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 57 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island College is located in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
  • Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island College 15:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 18.4% lower than at Rhode Island College ($10,950 vs. $13,414).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.3% higher at Sterling College than at Rhode Island College (about $13,461 more per year; $40,760 vs. $27,299).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Rhode Island College (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 385.5% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($32,556 vs. $6,706).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at RIC, test-free at Sterling College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Sterling College average a 3.1 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at RIC (3.08).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at RIC vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $4,165 lower median loan debt than RIC graduates ($17,035 vs. $21,200).
  • Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIC graduates ($176 vs. $219).
  • More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation (74% vs. 59%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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