Sterling College, a niche environmental-studies institution in Vermont, announced it will close after the spring 2026 semester, citing persistent enrollment declines and financial pressure. The school reported fewer than 40 students this term and said tuition revenue dropped sharply as enrollment tumbled; its modest endowment and reliance on restricted grants left it unable to sustain operations. Sterling is finalizing teach-out agreements with regional partners including College of the Atlantic, Community College of Vermont and Champlain College, pending accreditor approval. The closure underscores the vulnerability of small, mission-driven colleges with narrow program portfolios amid demographic headwinds and shrinking tuition income.