Sterling College

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

Sterling College

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

Sterling is a college located in a charming rural Vermont village that offers both two-year and four-year undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies. Our approach to education involves utilizing the local farms, forests, rivers, and wetlands as our classrooms. With a student body of fewer than 125 students in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, we aim to create a close-knit community that values sustainable and socially responsible living. At Sterling, we believe in experiential learning and encourage our students to actively participate and challenge the status quo. Join us at Sterling, where we believe that small is better.

Virtual Tour

Academic Programs

Activism
Art & Design
Climate Change
Climate Justice
Ecology
Education
Environment
Environmental Humanities
Environmental Studies
Liberal Arts
Natural History
Outdoor Education
Research
Science
Self-Designed Major
Social Science
Sustainability
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Food Systems

Student experience

Activism
BIPOC
Co-op/Internship Opportunities
Community
Community Care
Disability Services
Experiential Learning
Farm to table
Farming
Fiber Arts
Gardening
Hiking
LGBTQIA Services
LGBTQIA+
Livestock
Military/Veteran Services
On-Campus Housing
Outdoor Recreation
Rural
Self-Care,
Skiing
Small Class Sizes
Social Justice
Sustainability
Undergraduate Research
Vermont
Veteran Fee Waiver

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

First-year

Join the Sterling community with a simple 3-step process.
First, complete your application through the Common Application without any fees.
Second, submit a 500-800 word writing sample showcasing your skills and unique flair.
Finally, upload a photo or screenshot of your high school transcript to the Common Application or email it to your counselor. No official transcripts are required to apply.

Secure your future at Sterling College today!

Transfer

Join the Sterling community with a simple 3-step process.
First, complete your application through the Common Application without any fees.
Second, submit a 500-800 word writing sample showcasing your skills and unique flair.
Finally, upload a photo or screenshot of your high school transcript to the Common Application or email it to your counselor. No official transcripts are required to apply.

Secure your future at Sterling College today!

Additional Information

Work: At Sterling College, we offer a Work Program that equips students with essential skills such as time management, problem-solving, communication, and leadership. As a residential student, 5 hours per week, 80 hours per semester, are required to complete the work requirement. The program reduces tuition fees and provides opportunities to explore different job positions and interests.

Community: Our thirteen Touchstones promote connection, exploration, and growth. We prioritize honesty, accountability, informed consent, and confidentiality. We value laughter, play, and rest alongside work and learning.

Study: At Sterling College, we offer a two-year Associate of Arts degree or a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. Our approach to learning is unique, emphasizing personalized, outdoor-oriented, and community-centered education. Sterling education nurtures creative, multidimensional thinking that can be applied anywhere, equipping you with a well-stocked toolbox.

Visit us

Come and experience an extraordinary education at Sterling College, where you can explore the environment in unique ways. Our farm, gardens, and cedar swamp provide an ideal atmosphere for personalized instruction on your favorite subjects through one-on-one conversations with our students.

Visit our campus today and witness firsthand what sets us apart from other schools.

"Returning to a sense of place, community and local resilience is the next step in ecological thinking and action. Sterling is at the forefront of this movement; getting a college education here trains you how to be a leader through engaged practice in community living, work and celebration."
Allyson Makuch, Alumna