US CollegesGetting in
Sterling College admits 48% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The midpoint ACT score is 22 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $35,200 |
| Room and meals on campus | $9,870 |
| Books and supplies | $1,382 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $49,063 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $24,297 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 28% above the median net price of colleges in Kansas on this site ($19,034). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $19,652 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $24,755 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $23,570 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $25,699 |
| Above $110,000 | $29,054 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | KS median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 50% | 65% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 39% | 48% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $50,326 | $55,478 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $25,000 | $21,750 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Kansas and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
33% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 46% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 42% women and 58% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 24 of the 38 colleges in Kansas on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 860.
Other colleges in Kansas of a similar size
- Bethany CollegeLindsborg, private nonprofit
- Bethel College-North NewtonNorth Newton, private nonprofit
- Tabor CollegeHillsboro, private nonprofit
- Central Christian College of KansasMcPherson, private nonprofit
- Ottawa University-OnlineOverland Park, private nonprofit
- Newman UniversityWichita, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Sterling College?
Sterling College admits 48% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Sterling College?
Published tuition and fees are $35,200 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Sterling College?
39% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.