Sterling College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Sterling College is a private research university in Sterling, Kansas, enrolling about 538 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 48.17% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $45,846 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $33,700
- 2024 Average Net Price: $22,371 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 48.17% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 538 90.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 41.29%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 34.1%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 7.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 62.3%
- Average ACT Score: 22
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 812
- Applicants (IPEDS): 826
- Room & Board: $9,586 annual estimate
Sterling College: what the data shows
Common questions about Sterling College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Sterling College?
Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (ZIP 67579).
Is Sterling College public or private?
Sterling College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Sterling College cost?
Published tuition: $33,700.
Average net price after aid: $22,371.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,068 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,236 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,975 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,525 |
| $110,001+ | $26,602 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $134,800.
How hard is it to get into Sterling College?
Admission rate: 48.17%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Sterling College?
Total enrollment: 538 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 812 students.
Graduate enrollment: 24 students.
About 91% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Sterling College?
150%-time completion rate: 41.29%.
First-year retention: 50.3%.
What do graduates of Sterling College earn?
Median earnings: $40,722 six years after entry; $45,846 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,625.
37.06% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Sterling College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Athletic Training/Trainer (11 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (10 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (10 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (9 completions)
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (9 completions)
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (9 completions)
- Human Biology (6 completions)
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (6 completions)
- History, General (6 completions)
- Community Psychology (5 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Sterling College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 48.17%; completion rate 41.29%; median earnings $45,846 at 10 years; net price $22,371. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$33,700
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Sterling College was $33,700.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$22,371
2024 Value
In 2024 Sterling College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,371.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$89,484 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$22,371 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$134,800 4-Year Tuition
$9,586 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,382 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$44,668 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$178,672 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Sterling College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
37.06% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
48.82% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Sterling College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Sterling College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $21,200 | $21,200 | $16,264 |
| 2014 | $21,950 | $21,950 | $16,124 |
| 2015 | $22,950 | $22,950 | $17,648 |
| 2016 | $24,250 | $24,250 | $19,275 |
| 2017 | $24,985 | $24,985 | $19,556 |
| 2018 | $26,000 | $26,000 | $19,940 |
| 2019 | $27,300 | $27,300 | $20,090 |
| 2020 | $27,300 | $27,300 | $23,849 |
| 2021 | $28,500 | $28,500 | $22,309 |
| 2022 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $22,965 |
| 2023 | $32,200 | $32,200 | $22,403 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
48.17% Acceptance Rate
826 Total Applicants
438 Students Admitted
142 First-Time Students Enrolled
32.42% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Sterling College reported total enrollment of about 538 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 58% male and 42% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), and Non-Resident Alien (11.3%). About 37.06% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
90.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Sterling College in 2024 is 538 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 812 students. Graduate enrollment is about 24 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
50.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 52.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.03% 100% Completion Time
41.29% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.03% of students graduating from Sterling College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Athletic Training/Trainer: 45% male / 55% female
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 80% male / 20% female
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 60% male / 40% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Sterling College.
Return on Investment
$24,625 Median Student Debt
$45,846 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
53.71% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
412.34% Return on Investment
5.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Sterling College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 32 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Athletic Training/Trainer: 11 completions
2. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 10 completions
3. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 10 completions
4. Elementary Education and Teaching: 9 completions
5. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other: 9 completions
6. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other: 9 completions
7. Human Biology: 6 completions
8. Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General: 6 completions
9. History, General: 6 completions
Most popular programs at Sterling College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Sterling College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Sterling College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 62.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $4,904
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,665
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Sterling College is a private non-profit institution located in Sterling, KS, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Athletic Training/Trainer, Sport and Fitness Administration/Management, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. Enrollment is approximately 538 students. Student body composition includes White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Non-Resident Alien (11.3%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 48.17%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 22. The 150%-time completion rate is 41.29%. Approximately 37.06% of students receive Pell Grants. About 34.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Sterling, KS 67579
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Sterling College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sterling College located?
Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS.
What is Sterling College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Sterling College is 48.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 826 applicants and 438 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Sterling College cost?
Reported tuition is $33,700 and average net price is $22,371 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,586 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Sterling College?
Sterling College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 812 students, White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (17.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Sterling College?
About 34.1% of students at Sterling College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Sterling College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Sterling College reports midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Sterling College earn?
Median earnings are $40,722 six years after entry and $45,846 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Sterling College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Sterling College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,625.
Is Sterling College public or private?
Sterling College is a private nonprofit institution located in Sterling, KS.
Is Sterling College an HBCU?
No. Sterling College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Sterling College a tribal college?
No. Sterling College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Kansas college costs
- Kansas colleges by ROI
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kansas
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.