Sterling College Teach-Out
Frequently asked questions
Welcome, Sterling College students!
Sterling College and College of the Atlantic grew from the same idea: you learn ecology by living inside it. Sterling built that education around barns, woodlots, and hill farms in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. COA built it on an island in the Gulf of Maine. Today COA is Sterling’s teach-out partner and the keeper of its student records.
What was Sterling College?
Sterling College was a small work college in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, guided by the motto “Ecological Thinking and Action.” Students earned a degree in environmental studies, with concentrations in ecology, environmental humanities, outdoor education, and sustainable agriculture and food systems. Sterling was the first college in the country to offer a minor in draft horse management.
Is Sterling College still open?
No. Sterling ended its degree programs after the spring 2026 semester. College of the Atlantic is the preferred teach-out partner for Sterling’s environmental studies program and holds Sterling’s student records.
Can Sterling students still finish their degree at COA?
Yes. Sterling students are guaranteed admission with no application, and COA accepts every credit completed at or transferred into Sterling. Students can start in any term through winter 2028 and work one-on-one with a dedicated transfer advisor. Those with two or more years of credit can graduate with a BA in environmental studies or a BA in human ecology.
How do I request a Sterling College transcript?
Sterling College records are held by College of the Atlantic’s Office of the Registrar. To request a transcript, visit the Registrar page.
Are Sterling College and College of the Atlantic similar?
In the ways Sterling students cared about most, yes. Sterling students raised livestock and managed a working woodlot. COA students work at COA Beech Hill Farm and COA Peggy Rockefeller Farm. Sterling trained outdoor educators. Every new COA student starts with a student-led Outdoor Orientation Program trip, and Outdoor Programs runs trips all year, up to an annual climb of Mount Katahdin. Sterling asked students to help run the place as a work college, and COA students help govern theirs through the weekly All College Meeting. Sterling divested from fossil fuels in 2013, and COA has been carbon neutral since 2007.
How are Sterling College and College of the Atlantic different?
Sterling was organized around one major. At COA, every student earns a BA in human ecology, an interdisciplinary framework that examines, and seeks to improve, relationships among people, communities, and the natural world. Each student designs their own course of study across the arts, sciences, and humanities. The biggest difference is the ocean. COA sits on the shore of Mount Desert Island, next to Acadia National Park, and students do fieldwork at two island research stations, on Great Duck Island and Mount Desert Rock.
What colleges are most similar to Sterling College?
Students drawn to Sterling’s approach often explore College of the Atlantic, Warren Wilson College, and Prescott College.
Learn more
- We will accept all academic credits completed at or transferred into Sterling College.
- COA is on a trimester schedule. Sterling students can choose to start at COA in any term from Fall 2026 through Winter 2028.
- Sterling students starting at COA with two or more years of academic credit toward the BA will have the option to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies or COA’s bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology. If pursuing the human ecology degree, certain degree requirements can be waived.
- Faculty advisors will work with Sterling students to help shape an academic path; dedicated transfer advisors will work 1:1 with each Sterling student.
- During their first year (2026-2027), Sterling students will pay no more than their 2025-26 out-of-pocket costs at Sterling. In subsequent years at COA, the net cost for Sterling students will increase by no more than 3% per year.
- Student support services include academic advising, writing center, academic accommodations, mental health counseling, international student services, career center, and more.
- College of the Atlantic guarantees housing for Sterling students throughout their time at COA.
- To indicate your interest, complete the COA/Sterling Teach-Out Inquiry Form. The inquiry form allows us to begin working with you on academic advising/placement and financial aid.
- To receive a financial aid package from COA, Sterling students must file a FAFSA and also authorize us to receive their 2025-26 Sterling financial aid package.
- When you are ready to commit to enrolling, there is a separate Transfer/Teach-Out Enrollment Form to complete.
Contact the Admission Office
800-528-0025
207-288-4126 (fax)
[email protected]
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