The farm provides some 20 percent of the food consumed at the college. From start to finish, the wilds are emphasized. The academic year begins with an overnight orientation course. The curriculum is equally outdoors-oriented, with an interdisciplinary slant. Majors are offered in sustainable agriculture, woodlands ecology and outdoor education, among other subjects.
Courses range from forestry techniques to rock climbing to draft horses.
Sterling graduates are trained to become stewards of the land, and have gone on to become foresters, environmental lawyers, architects and artists. Dedicated to connecting its curriculum to environmental and social issues, this four-year college guides its 265 undergraduates in crafting an individual program of study that concludes with a B.A. of human ecology. The college's location brings students into easy contact with the natural aquatic world. Students frequently work at nearby whale and seabird observation stations collecting data on animal movements. Specific courses bring students into the local wilds.