OU vs. SC

Deciding between Ottawa University Ottawa 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.

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OU Ottawa, KS
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Setting
  • OU Distant Town
  • SC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 999
  • SC 694
  • Type
  • OU Private 4 Year
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OU
  • SC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OU American Baptist
  • SC -
  • Status
  • OU Non-profit
  • SC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OU
  • SC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OU $35,880
  • SC $33,700
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OU $35,880
  • SC $33,700
  • Room & Board
  • OU $13,646
  • SC $9,586
  • Average Net Price
  • OU $28,185
  • SC $23,531
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OU $23,692
  • SC $23,673
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OU 100%
  • SC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OU 2,611
  • SC 820
  • Admitted
  • OU 2,166
  • SC 395
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OU 83%
  • SC 48.2%
  • Enrolled
  • OU 14.1%
  • SC 30.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 880
  • SC 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 19
  • SC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • OU 3.12
  • SC 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OU B
  • SC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OU Extremely Easy
  • SC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • OU
  • SC Low
  • ACT Range
  • OU 16/22
  • SC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • OU 750/1000
  • SC 938/1123
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OU Test optional
  • SC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OU
  • SC Aug 17, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OU 12:1
  • SC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OU
    • Business (33%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (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
  • OU 47%
  • SC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OU $46,400
  • SC $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OU 46%
  • SC 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OU $21,875
  • SC $24,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OU $226
  • SC $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OU 62%
  • SC 56%
  • % Women
  • OU 38%
  • SC 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OU Medium
  • SC Medium
  • HBCU
  • OU No
  • SC No
  • % White
  • OU 61%
  • SC 68%
  • % Asian
  • OU 1%
  • SC 2%
  • % Black
  • OU 13%
  • SC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • OU 3%
  • SC 15%
  • % Native American
  • OU 5%
  • SC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OU 0%
  • SC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OU 3%
  • SC 0%
  • % International
  • OU 0%
  • SC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OU 14%
  • SC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OU 23%
  • SC 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OU 71%
  • SC 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ottawa University Ottawa is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (999 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is located in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1; Sterling College 8:1.

OU vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU 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 Sterling College than OU ($23,531 vs. $28,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 29.8% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($9,586 vs. $13,646).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SC (about $2,180 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $33,700.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at OU than at Sterling College (about $2,180 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $33,700.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($23,692 vs. $23,673).

OU vs. SC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OU 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 OU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 150 points higher than at OU (880).
  • Incoming SC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at OU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 750/1000; Sterling College 938/1123.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 16/22; Sterling College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OU - Test optional; SC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • 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 (83%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at OU vs. 30.4% at SC.

OU vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OU 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 Ottawa University Ottawa's (47%).
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ottawa University Ottawa graduates have a $2,788 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($21,875 vs. $24,663).
  • Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.