SC vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

SC vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or AQ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than SC ($18,018 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 17.9% lower than at Aquinas College ($9,586 vs. $11,680).
• Aquinas College is 19.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SC (about $6,518 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at AQ than at Sterling College (about $6,518 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 41.7% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($33,535 vs. $23,673).

SC vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or AQ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AQ and SC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is the same as at AQ (1030).
• Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at SC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at SC (3.46).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 11.8% at AQ.

SC vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and AQ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
• Graduates from Aquinas College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $1,337 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($24,663 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($255 vs. $268).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.