SC vs. College of Saint Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Saint Mary is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (786 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); College of Saint Mary is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Saint Mary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; College of Saint Mary 8:1.

SC vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary than SC ($17,078 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 5.2% lower than at Sterling College ($9,084 vs. $9,586).
• Sterling College is 37.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Saint Mary (about $9,190 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.5% higher at SC than at College of Saint Mary (about $9,190 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College as at College of Saint Mary (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 25.6% larger than aid received by College of Saint Mary students ($23,673 vs. $18,847).

SC vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary and SC.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; College of Saint Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at College of Saint Mary (3.4).
• SC has a higher acceptance rate (48.2%) than College of Saint Mary (44.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 35.3% at College of Saint Mary.

SC vs. College of Saint Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary's (30%).
• Graduates from College of Saint Mary earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,300 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $1,337 lower median loan debt than College of Saint Mary graduates ($24,663 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Saint Mary graduates ($255 vs. $268).
• More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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.