SUNY-Potsdam vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY College at Potsdam in Potsdam, NY with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY College at Potsdam is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (2,832 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY College at Potsdam is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1; Sterling College 7:1.

SUNY-Potsdam vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY-Potsdam 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 SUNY College at Potsdam than Sterling College ($13,730 vs. $21,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 28.3% lower than at SUNY College at Potsdam ($10,950 vs. $15,280).
• Sterling College is 364.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-Potsdam (about $31,992 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $8,768.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.2% higher at Sterling College than at SUNY College at Potsdam (about $22,082 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $18,678.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at SUNY College at Potsdam (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 192.1% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($32,556 vs. $11,147).

SUNY-Potsdam vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY-Potsdam 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 SUNY-Potsdam.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SUNY-Potsdam students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• SUNY-Potsdam has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10% at SUNY-Potsdam vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

SUNY-Potsdam vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY-Potsdam 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).

• SUNY College at Potsdam's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $7,965 lower median loan debt than SUNY-Potsdam graduates ($17,035 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY-Potsdam graduates ($176 vs. $258).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-Potsdam students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)

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.