Thomas College vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (1,635 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Thomas College vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College 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 Thomas College than Sterling College ($19,126 vs. $21,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 22.3% lower than at Thomas College ($10,950 vs. $14,090).
• Sterling College is 28.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $8,936 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.1% higher at Sterling College than at Thomas College (about $8,936 more per year; $40,760.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 15.4% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($32,556 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Thomas College 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 Thomas College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Thomas College vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College 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).

• Sterling College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Thomas College's (45%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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.