SC vs. SCU

Should I go to Sterling College or Southwestern Christian University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or SCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Sterling College vs. Southwestern Christian University comparison
Sterling College Southwestern Christian University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 SC SCU
Location Sterling, KS Bethany, OK
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 706 425
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Pentecostal Holiness Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu swcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC SCU
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $17,040
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $17,040
Room & Board $9,336 $9,400
Avg Net Price $22,680 $19,713
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $11,041
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 SC SCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 -
Admitted 1,197 -
Acceptance Rate 61.1%
Enrolled % 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.22
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2024

Academics

 SC SCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Human Services (34%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)

Outcomes

 SC SCU
Graduation Rate 48% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $27,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

 SC SCU
% Men 59% 56%
% Women 41% 44%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 44%
% Black 11% 25%
% Hispanic 15% 8%
% Native American 2% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

 SC SCU
% In-State 37% 72%
% Out-of-State 53% 19%

Campus

 SC SCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sterling College is larger than than SCU based on total student enrollment (706 students vs. 425 students)

SC vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or SCU?

  • Sterling College is 67.3% more expensive to attend than SCU for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $17,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.3% higher at SC than Southwestern Christian University ($28,500.00 vs. $17,040.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern Christian University than SC ($19,713 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 0.7% lower than costs at Southwestern Christian University ($9,336 vs. $9,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Southwestern Christian University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 78.7% larger than aid received Southwestern Christian University ($19,729 vs. $11,041)

Which college is harder to get into, SC or SCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SCU or SC .

  • The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 12 points higher than at SCU (978)
  • Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at SCU (21)
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at SCU (3.22)

SC vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or SCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SCU and SC.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Southwestern Christian University (48% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn on average $10,000 more per year than SCU graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $27,400)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $2,337 lower median federal student loan debt than SCU graduates. ($24,663 vs. $27,000)
  • SC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than SCU graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/