Sterling College vs Hampshire College

Sterling College and Hampshire College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences that cater to distinct student aspirations. Sterling College, nestled in the picturesque town of Craftsbury Common, Vermont, stands out for its focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability, reflected in its 100% renewable energy commitment and immersive experiential learning programs. Hampshire College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, distinguishes itself with its pioneering approach to interdisciplinary studies, allowing students to design their own majors and pursue their intellectual passions across diverse fields. While Sterling College boasts a higher acceptance rate, Hampshire College attracts a more diverse student body, with a greater proportion of international students. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions between these two exceptional colleges, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the ideal academic environment for your educational journey.

	Hampshire College	Sterling College
Overview
Location	Amherst, Massachusetts	Sterling, Kansas
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Rural: Distant
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	4-1-4
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	72.0%	55.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	75.1%	47.4%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $25 Graduate: $25
SAT range	N/A	996 - 1166
ACT range	N/A	18 - 25
Students submitting SAT score		12.0%
Students submitting ACT score		33.0%
Total number of applicants	1,340	2,574
Total number of admissions given out	1,007	1,220
Admitted students who chose to enroll	133	206
Yield rate	13.2%	16.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$66,658	$42,886
Average net price	$30,168	$22,377
Tuition	$51,000	$27,000
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,520 Meal plan: $5,912	Room/dormitory: $3,516 Meal plan: $5,608
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $36,653	100.0% Average amount $18,158
Students receiving federal student loan	64.0% Average amount $4,793	70.0% Average amount $5,750
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $8,793	8.0% Average amount $11,649

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	472 Men 38.1% Women 61.9%	686 Men 59.0% Women 41.0%
Graduate students	N/A	14 Men 14.3% Women 85.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	6.4%	5.3%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Rural: Distant
Dormitory capacity	1,180	635
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Social Sciences Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ethnic Studies	Health Professions Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Law Enforcement and Firefighting Education Business
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.4%	43.2%
Dropout rate	37.3%	25.2%
Transferred out	N/A	30.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,720 Year 2: $19,829 Year 3: $23,704	Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $25,167 Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: $34,697 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,026 Year 2: $36,745 Year 3: N/A Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: N/A

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