Willamette University vs. Sterling College

Should I go to Willamette University or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Willamette University 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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Willamette University vs. Sterling College comparison
Willamette University Sterling College College 3 College 4
Willamette University Sterling College
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Overview

 Willamette University Sterling College
Location Salem, OR Craftsbury Common, VT
Setting Midsize City Remote Rural
Enrollment 1,909 101
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website willamette.edu sterlingcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Willamette University Sterling College
Tuition (In State) $45,000 $39,000
Tuition (Out of State) $45,000 $39,000
Room & Board $14,340 $10,400
Avg Net Price $32,957 $21,222
Avg Grant Aid $27,700 $31,078
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Willamette University Sterling College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,994 28
Admitted 3,219 26
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 92.9%
Enrolled % 16.3% 38.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.1
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Willamette University Sterling College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
  • Biology (33%)
  • Agriculture (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Willamette University Sterling College
Graduation Rate 77% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $17,035
Median Loan Payment $268 $176

Diversity

 Willamette University Sterling College
% Men 43% 41%
% Women 57% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 83%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 10% 0%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 6%

Students

 Willamette University Sterling College
% In-State 25% 22%
% Out-of-State 73% 78%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Willamette University is larger than than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,909 students vs. 101 students)

Willamette University vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Willamette University or Sterling College?

  • Willamette University is 15.4% more expensive to attend than Sterling College for in-state tuition ($45,000.00 vs. $39,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at Willamette University than Sterling College ($45,000.00 vs. $39,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Willamette University ($21,222 vs. $32,957)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 37.9% lower than costs at Willamette University ($10,400 vs. $14,340)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Willamette University as Sterling College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 12.2% larger than aid received Willamette University ($31,078 vs. $27,700)

Willamette University vs. Sterling College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Willamette University students have a 0.87 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Sterling College (3.1)
  • Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Willamette University (80.6%)

Willamette University vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Willamette University 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 Willamette University.

  • The graduation rate at Willamette University is higher than Sterling College (77% vs. 50%)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $8,965 lower median federal student loan debt than Willamette University graduates. ($17,035 vs. $26,000)
  • Sterling College graduates are paying $92 less per month on federal student loans than Willamette University graduates. ($176 vs. $268)
  • More Willamette University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 74%)

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