SC vs. LEC

Should I go to Sterling College or Lake Erie College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or LEC 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. 

Marietta College
Sterling College vs. Lake Erie College comparison
Sterling College Lake Erie College College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 SC LEC
Location Sterling, KS Painesville, OH
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 707 942
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu lec.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC LEC
Tuition (In State) $30,000 $34,596
Tuition (Out of State) $30,000 $34,596
Room & Board $9,532 $11,592
Avg Net Price $22,996 $22,322
Avg Grant Aid $21,778 $26,289
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 SC LEC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 826 1,193
Admitted 438 765
Acceptance Rate 53% 64.1%
Enrolled % 32.4% 24.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123 945/1115
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, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 SC LEC
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%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 SC LEC
Graduation Rate 48% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $36,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

 SC LEC
% Men 2% 8%
% Women 2% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 77%
% Black 11% 10%
% Hispanic 15% 2%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 SC LEC
% In-State 42% 54%
% Out-of-State 54% 40%

Campus

 SC LEC
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

  • Lake Erie College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (942 students vs. 707 students)

SC vs. LEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or LEC?

  • Lake Erie College is 15.3% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($34,596.00 vs. $30,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.3% higher at LEC than Sterling College ($34,596.00 vs. $30,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lake Erie College than SC ($22,322 vs. $22,996)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 21.6% lower than costs at Lake Erie College ($9,532 vs. $11,592)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College as Lake Erie College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Erie College students is 20.7% larger than aid received Sterling College ($26,289 vs. $21,778)

SC vs. LEC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 1 points higher than at LEC (989)
  • Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at LEC (21)
  • 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 (64.1%) than SC (53%)

SC vs. LEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or LEC? 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 LEC and SC.

  • The graduation rate at LEC is higher than Sterling College (53% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn on average $800 more per year than LEC graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $36,600)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $2,337 lower median federal student loan debt than LEC graduates. ($24,663 vs. $27,000)
  • SC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans 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/