Financial Aid & College Costs

We make every effort to ensure that financial concerns do not stand in the way of those pursuing a Sterling College education. The combination of funds from federal and state assistance programs, Sterling’s scholarship funds, our Work-Learning-Service Program, and a student’s personal resources works effectively to meet costs. Sterling College uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Sterling College Financial Aid and Scholarship Application to determine a student’s financial need and to measure the student’s ability to pay. Our federal code (step six on the FAFSA) is 014991. Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are used.
The FAFSA and the Sterling College Financial Aid and Scholarship Application may take up to two weeks to process; we urge you to submit them early, even if your college plans are indefinite. Don’t forget to apply for state grants through your home-state’s financial aid agency; know that deadlines vary from state to state.

Applicants may qualify for up to six federal aid programs: Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Stafford Loans (subsidized or unsubsidized), PLUS Loans, and Work-Study and Sterling’s Work-Learning-Service Program. Students eligible for PELL Grants should pay particular attention to questions on the FAFSA pertaining to academic coursework. First and second year PELL eligible students who have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study may be eligible for an Academic Competitive Grant (ACG), which ranges from $750-$1,300. Third and fourth year college students who are PELL eligible and majoring in conservation ecology or a self-designed major in a physical or life science may be eligible for a National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant of $4,000. Some candidates are eligible for state grants, Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits, or Veteran’s Administration Benefits. Sterling College provides grants and scholarships to individuals on the basis of both need and merit.

Did you know that…

100% of the College’s students are eligible to receive financial assistance through our Work-Learning-Service Program.
100% of the students determined to have need receive financial assistance.
For the 2008/2009 academic year 105 enrolled students received a total of $2,226,112 of aid.
For all eligible full-time enrolled students, the average Sterling College Aid Package plus the expected family contribution exceed direct costs.
For the 2008/2009 academic year the average full-time undergraduate need-based gift award (based on federal, state, and institutional grants) was $12,559.

Resident students receive credit toward tuition and books in exchange for participation in the Sterling College Work-Learning-Service Program. This federally funded program assists with the reduction of college costs. For the 2009/2010 academic year, students may earn a minimum of $1,600 to help pay for tuition and books. In exchange, students commit to work assignments on and off campus that promote the common good of the community and strengthen job related skills. Students on internship are eligible to earn an additional $525.
Your education is an investment in your future. For more information regarding Financial Aid, how eligibility is determined, and how financial aid is disbursed, please contact the Sterling College Financial Aid Office at 800-648-3591 or financialaid@sterlingcollege.edu