Illinois College vs. SC

Should I go to Illinois College or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois College 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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Illinois College vs. Sterling College comparison
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Illinois College
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Overview

 Illinois College SC
Location Jacksonville, IL Sterling, KS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,029 706
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #687
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ic.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois College SC
Tuition (In State) $35,796 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $28,500
Room & Board $9,964 $9,336
Avg Net Price $16,296 $22,680
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $19,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Illinois College SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 1,959
Admitted 2,503 1,197
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 61.1%
Enrolled % 9.3% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26 18/24
SAT Range 960/1126 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 17, 2025

Academics

 Illinois College SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Illinois College SC
Graduation Rate 57% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $279 $255

Diversity

 Illinois College SC
% Men 47% 59%
% Women 53% 41%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 68%
% Black 12% 11%
% Hispanic 10% 15%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Illinois College SC
% In-State 70% 37%
% Out-of-State 21% 53%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (1,029 students vs. 706 students)

Illinois College vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or SC?

  • Illinois College is 25.6% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($35,796.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.6% higher at Illinois College than Sterling College ($35,796.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois College than SC ($16,296 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 6.7% lower than costs at Illinois College ($9,336 vs. $9,964)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College as Sterling College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 51% larger than aid received Sterling College ($29,785 vs. $19,729)

Illinois College vs. SC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at SC (3.46)
  • Illinois College has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than SC (61.1%)

Illinois College vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois College 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 Illinois College.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois College is higher than Sterling College (57% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Illinois College earn on average $7,900 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $37,400)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $2,337 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($24,663 vs. $27,000)
  • SC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 60%)

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