CSU-Pueblo vs. SC

Should I go to Colorado State University Pueblo or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU-Pueblo or SC 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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Colorado State University Pueblo vs. Sterling College comparison
Colorado State University Pueblo Sterling College College 3 College 4
Colorado State University Pueblo
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Overview

 CSU-Pueblo SC
Location Pueblo, CO Sterling, KS
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 6,691 707
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1023
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colostate-pueblo.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CSU-Pueblo SC
Tuition (In State) $6,870 $30,000
Tuition (Out of State) $14,711 $30,000
Room & Board $11,596 $9,532
Avg Net Price $14,188 $22,996
Avg Grant Aid $10,736 $21,778
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

 CSU-Pueblo SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,834 826
Admitted 1,831 438
Acceptance Rate 99.8% 53%
Enrolled % 37% 32.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 870/1100 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Aug 17, 2026

Academics

 CSU-Pueblo SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 CSU-Pueblo SC
Graduation Rate 32% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,000 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $204 $255

Diversity

 CSU-Pueblo SC
% Men 6% 2%
% Women 22% 2%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 48% 68%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 32% 15%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 CSU-Pueblo SC
% In-State 85% 42%
% Out-of-State 13% 54%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado State University Pueblo is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (6,691 students vs. 707 students)

CSU-Pueblo vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU-Pueblo or SC?

  • Sterling College is 336.7% more expensive to attend than CSU-Pueblo for in-state tuition ($30,000.00 vs. $6,870.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 103.9% higher at SC than Colorado State University Pueblo ($30,000.00 vs. $14,711.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Pueblo than SC ($14,188 vs. $22,996)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 21.7% lower than costs at Colorado State University Pueblo ($9,532 vs. $11,596)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Colorado State University Pueblo (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 102.9% larger than aid received Colorado State University Pueblo ($21,778 vs. $10,736)

CSU-Pueblo vs. SC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 20 points higher than at CSU-Pueblo (970)
  • Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at CSU-Pueblo (21)
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at CSU-Pueblo (3.3)
  • CSU-Pueblo has a higher acceptance rate (99.8%) than SC (53%)

CSU-Pueblo vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU-Pueblo or SC? 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 SC and CSU-Pueblo.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Colorado State University Pueblo (48% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from Colorado State University Pueblo earn on average $1,600 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $37,400)
  • Colorado State University Pueblo students graduate with a $4,913 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,663)
  • CSU-Pueblo graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($204 vs. $255)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU-Pueblo 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/