K-State vs. SC

Deciding between Kansas State 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.

Kansas State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • SC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • SC 694
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • SC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • SC -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • SC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • SC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • SC $33,700
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • SC $33,700
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • SC $9,586
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • SC $23,531
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • SC $23,673
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • SC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • SC 820
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • SC 395
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • SC 48.2%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • SC 30.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • SC 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • SC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • SC 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • SC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • SC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • SC Low
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • SC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • SC 938/1123
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • SC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • SC Aug 17, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • SC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • SC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • SC $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • SC 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • SC $24,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • SC $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • SC 56%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • SC 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • SC Medium
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • SC No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • SC 68%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • SC 2%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • SC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • SC 15%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • SC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • SC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • SC 0%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • SC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • SC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • SC 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • SC 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with Sterling College in Sterling, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kansas State University is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (20,295 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; Sterling College 8:1.

K-State vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State 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 Kansas State University than SC ($20,527 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 25.3% lower than at Kansas State University ($9,586 vs. $12,830).
  • Sterling College is 200.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $22,479 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at SC than at Kansas State University (about $5,132 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Kansas State University (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 155.4% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($23,673 vs. $9,270).

K-State vs. SC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, K-State 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 K-State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 130 points higher than at SC (1030).
  • Incoming K-State 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: Kansas State University 1060/1260; Sterling College 938/1123.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; Sterling College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; SC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at SC (3.46).
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 30.4% at SC.

K-State vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State 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).

  • Kansas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kansas State University graduates have a $2,163 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,663).
  • Among borrowers, K-State graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($232 vs. $255).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.