SC vs. Columbia College

Deciding between Sterling College and Columbia 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
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Columbia College Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • SC Remote Town
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SC 694
  • Columbia College 1,725
  • Type
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SC
  • Columbia College #937
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SC -
  • Columbia College United Methodist
  • Status
  • SC Non-profit
  • Columbia College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SC
  • Columbia College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Columbia College $22,214
  • Room & Board
  • SC $9,586
  • Columbia College $9,390
  • Average Net Price
  • SC $23,531
  • Columbia College $18,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SC $23,673
  • Columbia College $16,451
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SC 100%
  • Columbia College 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SC 820
  • Columbia College 2,634
  • Admitted
  • SC 395
  • Columbia College 2,474
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SC 48.2%
  • Columbia College 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SC 30.4%
  • Columbia College 8.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SC 1030
  • Columbia College 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • SC 21
  • Columbia College 16
  • Average High School GPA
  • SC 3.46
  • Columbia College 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SC B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SC Very Easy
  • Columbia College Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SC Low
  • Columbia College
  • ACT Range
  • SC 18/24
  • Columbia College 14/18
  • SAT Range
  • SC 938/1123
  • Columbia College 850/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SC Test optional
  • Columbia College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • SC Aug 17, 2027
  • Columbia College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SC 8:1
  • Columbia College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Columbia College
    • Education (20%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Human Services (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SC 48%
  • Columbia College 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SC $37,400
  • Columbia College $34,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SC 60%
  • Columbia College 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SC $24,663
  • Columbia College $25,264
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SC $255
  • Columbia College $261

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SC 56%
  • Columbia College 19%
  • % Women
  • SC 44%
  • Columbia College 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SC Medium
  • Columbia College High
  • HBCU
  • SC No
  • Columbia College No
  • % White
  • SC 68%
  • Columbia College 55%
  • % Asian
  • SC 2%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Black
  • SC 11%
  • Columbia College 34%
  • % Hispanic
  • SC 15%
  • Columbia College 4%
  • % Native American
  • SC 2%
  • Columbia College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SC 0%
  • Columbia College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SC 0%
  • Columbia College 3%
  • % International
  • SC 0%
  • Columbia College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SC 3%
  • Columbia College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SC 34%
  • Columbia College 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SC 57%
  • Columbia College 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia College is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (1,725 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SC vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College than SC ($18,790 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 2% lower than at Sterling College ($9,390 vs. $9,586).
  • Sterling College is 51.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $11,486 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.7% higher at SC than at Columbia College (about $11,486 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $22,214.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Columbia College (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 43.9% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($23,673 vs. $16,451).

SC vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College and SC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 30 points higher than at Columbia College (1000).
  • Incoming SC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 16 at Columbia College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Columbia College 850/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Columbia College 14/18.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; Columbia College - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at SC (3.46).
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 8.5% at Columbia College.

SC vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and Columbia College? 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).

  • Columbia College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $601 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($24,663 vs. $25,264).
  • Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($255 vs. $261).
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 43%)

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.