Warren Wilson vs. Sterling College

Should I go to Warren Wilson College or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Warren Wilson or Sterling College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Warren Wilson College vs. Sterling College comparison
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Sterling College
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Overview

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Location Swannanoa, NC Craftsbury Common, VT
Setting Midsize Suburban Remote Rural
Enrollment 793 101
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website warren-wilson.edu sterlingcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Tuition (In State) $37,500 $39,000
Tuition (Out of State) $37,500 $39,000
Room & Board $12,050 $10,400
Avg Net Price $28,086 $21,222
Avg Grant Aid $26,012 $31,078
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 905 28
Admitted 760 26
Acceptance Rate 84% 92.9%
Enrolled % 25.3% 38.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Difficult Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 3, 2025

Academics

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Natural Resources Conservation (28%)
  • English and Literature (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
  • Biology (33%)
  • Agriculture (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Graduation Rate 45% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,800 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $17,035
Median Loan Payment $237 $176

Diversity

Warren Wilson Sterling College
% Men 34% 41%
% Women 66% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

Warren Wilson Sterling College
% In-State 40% 22%
% Out-of-State 58% 78%

Campus

Warren Wilson Sterling College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Warren Wilson College is larger than than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (793 students vs. 101 students)

Warren Wilson vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Warren Wilson or Sterling College?

  • Sterling College is 4% more expensive to attend than Warren Wilson for in-state tuition ($39,000.00 vs. $37,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4% higher at Sterling College than Warren Wilson College ($39,000.00 vs. $37,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Warren Wilson ($21,222 vs. $28,086)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 15.9% lower than costs at Warren Wilson College ($10,400 vs. $12,050)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Warren Wilson College as Sterling College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 19.5% larger than aid received Warren Wilson College ($31,078 vs. $26,012)

Warren Wilson vs. Sterling College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Warren Wilson or Sterling College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sterling College or Warren Wilson .

  • Accepted freshman Warren Wilson students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Sterling College (3.1)
  • Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Warren Wilson (84%)

Warren Wilson vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Warren Wilson or Sterling College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sterling College and Warren Wilson.

  • The graduation rate at Sterling College is higher than Warren Wilson College (50% vs. 45%)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $5,965 lower median federal student loan debt than Warren Wilson graduates. ($17,035 vs. $23,000)
  • Sterling College graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Warren Wilson graduates. ($176 vs. $237)
  • More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Warren Wilson students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/