Sterling College in Craftsbury will discontinue its degree programs after the spring 2026 semester, the school announced Thursday. The college said in a statement that the decision was made "in the face of persistent financial and enrollment challenges." A final commencement is planned for May 2026.
The environmentally focused college, which has operated for more than 65 years with a capped enrollment of 125 students, has enrolled fewer than 100 students in recent years. President Scott Thomas said the school is focused on helping current students complete their degrees or transfer. "Right now, we're totally focused on seeing students through the spring and getting as many finished as we can by mid summer, maybe August," Thomas said in an interview.
Partner institutions including Champlain College and Community College of Vermont have agreed to accept transfer credits and financial aid packages pending approval from the New England Commission of Higher Education, the college said. Sterling will remain accredited through the summer to run internships.
Allison Hooper, board chair and co-founder of Vermont Creamery, said ending degree programs "provides the most responsible way to honor Sterling's commitments to its students, faculty, and staff while preserving its values and legacy." Thomas said the board will determine how to steward remaining resources, adding that "the community is going to figure prominently in whatever evolves here."
Sterling joins a list of small Vermont colleges that have closed or ended programs in recent years, including Green Mountain College, College of St. Joseph, and Goddard College. Thomas noted that demographic trends and competition from larger public and online institutions have made it hard for mission-driven schools to remain financially sustainable.
Originally reported by VTDigger.
Photo: Austin via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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