The school's transition to higher education in the 1970s began with the Academic Short Course in Outdoor Leadership, a 21-day program.

It awards Bachelor of Arts degrees in Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Outdoor Education, and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.

[4] In 2013, Sterling College created the Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.

[5] Sterling College also launched a continuing education program in 2013, with a series of 2- and 4-week short courses.

[6] Other courses feature guest faculty such as Sandor Katz,[7] John Elder, Rowan Jacobsen, Ginger Strand, and Clare Walker Leslie.