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Sterling College

Sterling, Kansas · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Rural

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Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$22,371What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
48%
Graduation rate
34%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
538
In-state tuition
$33,700Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$33,700
SAT midpoint
1,082
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$45,846Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$22,371

Better than 52% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

34%

Better than 11% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$45,846

Better than 25% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$24,625

Better than 52% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$47,185

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$22,371

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Sterling College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time34%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return50%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$24,625
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$45,846

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Sterling College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$30,08616
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherNot reported8
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reported8
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported8
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported7
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported5
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reported5
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported4
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reported4
HistoryNot reported4
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyNot reported3
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported3
MarketingNot reported3
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported3
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported2
Human BiologyNot reported2
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reported2
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported2
Biology, GeneralNot reported2
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported1
Theology and Religious Vocations, OtherNot reported1
JournalismNot reported1
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported1
MusicNot reported1
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported1
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported1
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Philosophy and Religious Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
StatisticsNot reportedNot reported
Religious EducationNot reportedNot reported
MathematicsNot reportedNot reported
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Design and Applied ArtsNot reportedNot reported
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported
ChemistryNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reportedNot reported
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reportedNot reported
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesNot reportedNot reported

All 41 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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