SC vs. Columbia College

Should I go to Sterling College or Columbia College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or Columbia 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.
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Sterling College vs. Columbia College comparison
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Overview

 SC Columbia College
Location Sterling, KS Columbia, MO
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 706 6,046
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu ccis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $24,326
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $24,326
Room & Board $9,336 $8,670
Avg Net Price $22,680 $22,824
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $13,725
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 SC Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 -
Admitted 1,197 -
Acceptance Rate 61.1% Open
Enrolled % 13.4% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2025

Academics

 SC Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (4%)

Outcomes

 SC Columbia College
Graduation Rate 48% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $41,800
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $22,034
Median Loan Payment $255 $227

Diversity

 SC Columbia College
% Men 59% 40%
% Women 41% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 55%
% Black 11% 25%
% Hispanic 15% 8%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

 SC Columbia College
% In-State 37% 56%
% Out-of-State 53% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (6,046 students vs. 706 students)

SC vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Columbia College?

  • Sterling College is 17.2% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at SC than Columbia College ($28,500.00 vs. $24,326.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Columbia College ($22,680 vs. $22,824)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 7.7% lower than costs at Sterling College ($8,670 vs. $9,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Columbia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 43.7% larger than aid received Columbia College ($19,729 vs. $13,725)

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at SC (3.46)

SC vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or Columbia 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 Columbia College and SC.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Columbia College (48% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Columbia College earn on average $4,400 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($41,800 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $2,629 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($22,034 vs. $24,663)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($227 vs. $255)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 40%)

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