SC vs. LEC

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Erie College is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (1,108 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Lake Erie College is in Painesville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lake Erie College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Lake Erie College 12:1.

SC vs. LEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or LEC? 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 Lake Erie College than SC ($22,892 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 26.5% lower than at Lake Erie College ($9,586 vs. $13,036).
• Lake Erie College is 11.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SC (about $3,934 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at LEC than at Sterling College (about $3,934 more per year; $37,634.00 vs. $33,700.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College as at Lake Erie College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 17.8% larger than aid received by Sterling College students ($27,879 vs. $23,673).

SC vs. LEC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is the same as at LEC (1030).
• Incoming SC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at LEC (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Lake Erie College 945/1115.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Lake Erie College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; LEC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027; LEC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at LEC (3.19).
• LEC has a higher acceptance rate (70.4%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 19.7% at LEC.

SC vs. LEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and LEC? 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).

• Lake Erie College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
• Graduates from Sterling College earn a median of about $800 more per year than LEC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,400 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $2,337 lower median loan debt than LEC graduates ($24,663 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LEC graduates ($255 vs. $279).
• More LEC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 60%)

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.