OU vs. SC

Should I go to Ottawa University Ottawa or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if OU 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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Ottawa University Ottawa vs. Sterling College comparison
Ottawa University Ottawa Sterling College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 OU SC
Location Ottawa, KS Sterling, KS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 953 706
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation American Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ottawa.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OU SC
Tuition (In State) $29,980 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $29,980 $28,500
Room & Board $11,934 $9,336
Avg Net Price $26,872 $22,680
Avg Grant Aid $23,303 $19,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 OU SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,331 1,959
Admitted 2,606 1,197
Acceptance Rate 78.2% 61.1%
Enrolled % 10% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.46
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 18/24
SAT Range 860/1100 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 17, 2025

Academics

 OU SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 OU SC
Graduation Rate 47% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,875 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $226 $255

Diversity

 OU SC
% Men 63% 59%
% Women 37% 41%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 61% 68%
% Black 13% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 15%
% Native American 5% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 14% 3%

Students

 OU SC
% In-State 29% 37%
% Out-of-State 69% 53%

Campus

 OU 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

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (953 students vs. 706 students)

OU vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or SC?

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 5.2% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($29,980.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.2% higher at OU than Sterling College ($29,980.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than OU ($22,680 vs. $26,872)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 27.8% lower than costs at Ottawa University Ottawa ($9,336 vs. $11,934)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa as Sterling College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 18.1% larger than aid received Sterling College ($23,303 vs. $19,729)

OU vs. SC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at OU (3.12)
  • OU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than SC (61.1%)

OU vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OU 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 OU.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Ottawa University Ottawa (48% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn on average $9,000 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $37,400)
  • Ottawa University Ottawa students graduate with a $2,788 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($21,875 vs. $24,663)
  • OU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($226 vs. $255)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 46%)

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