ATU vs. SC

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Sterling College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arkansas Tech University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • SC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • SC 694
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • SC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • SC -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • SC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • SC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • SC $33,700
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • SC $33,700
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • SC $9,586
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • SC $23,531
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • SC $23,673
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • SC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • SC 820
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • SC 395
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • SC 48.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • SC 30.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • SC 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • SC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • SC 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • SC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • SC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • SC Low
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • SC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • SC 938/1123
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • SC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • SC Aug 17, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • SC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • SC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • SC $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • SC 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • SC $24,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • SC $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • SC 56%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • SC 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • SC Medium
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • SC No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • SC 68%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • SC 2%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • SC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • SC 15%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • SC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • SC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • SC 0%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • SC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • SC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • SC 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • SC 57%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATU Yes
  • SC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATU No
  • SC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATU Yes
  • SC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATU Yes
  • SC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATU No
  • SC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Sterling College in Sterling, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Sterling College 8:1.

ATU vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or SC? 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 Arkansas Tech University than SC ($12,626 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 7.3% lower than at Arkansas Tech University ($9,586 vs. $10,338).
  • Sterling College is 288.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $25,026 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 129.8% higher at SC than at Arkansas Tech University (about $19,032 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Arkansas Tech University (100% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 139.1% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($23,673 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. SC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or SC? 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 SC and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 40 points higher than at ATU (990).
  • Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at ATU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Sterling College 938/1123.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; Sterling College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; SC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at ATU (3.37).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 30.4% at SC.

ATU vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and SC? 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).

  • Sterling College's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn a median of about $300 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $6,913 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($17,750 vs. $24,663).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($183 vs. $255).
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 51%)

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.