SC vs. Bethany College

Should I go to Sterling College or Bethany College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or Bethany College 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Sterling College vs. Bethany College comparison
Sterling College Bethany College College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 SC Bethany College
Location Sterling, KS Bethany, WV
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 706 623
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu bethanywv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC Bethany College
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $30,720
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $30,720
Room & Board $9,336 $11,900
Avg Net Price $22,680 $17,605
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $30,005
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 SC Bethany College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 2,651
Admitted 1,197 1,721
Acceptance Rate 61.1% 64.9%
Enrolled % 13.4% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 2.85
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/26
SAT Range 938/1123 870/1110
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

 SC Bethany College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Human Services (8%)

Outcomes

 SC Bethany College
Graduation Rate 48% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $30,884
Median Loan Payment $255 $319

Diversity

 SC Bethany College
% Men 59% 56%
% Women 41% 44%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 51%
% Black 11% 18%
% Hispanic 15% 5%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 20%

Students

 SC Bethany College
% In-State 37% 22%
% Out-of-State 53% 68%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Sterling College is larger than than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (706 students vs. 623 students)

SC vs. Bethany College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Bethany College?

  • Bethany College is 7.8% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($30,720.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at Bethany College than Sterling College ($30,720.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bethany College than SC ($17,605 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 27.5% lower than costs at Bethany College ($9,336 vs. $11,900)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College as Bethany College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 52.1% larger than aid received Sterling College ($30,005 vs. $19,729)

SC vs. Bethany College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 83 points higher than at Bethany College (907)
  • Incoming SC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bethany College (20)
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Bethany College (2.85)
  • Bethany College has a higher acceptance rate (64.9%) than SC (61.1%)

SC vs. Bethany College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or Bethany College? 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 Bethany College and SC.

  • The graduation rate at SC is the same as at Bethany College (48% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Bethany College earn on average $6,600 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $37,400)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $6,221 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethany College graduates. ($24,663 vs. $30,884)
  • SC graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Bethany College graduates. ($255 vs. $319)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethany College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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