SC vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Sterling College or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or Messenger 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. Messenger College comparison
Sterling College Messenger College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 SC Messenger College
Location Sterling, KS Joplin, TX
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 706 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $9,480
Room & Board $9,336 $7,832
Avg Net Price $22,680 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 SC Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 8
Admitted 1,197 4
Acceptance Rate 61.1% 50%
Enrolled % 13.4% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
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, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 SC Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

 SC Messenger College
Graduation Rate 48% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 N/A
Median Loan Payment $255 N/A

Diversity

 SC Messenger College
% Men 59% 42%
% Women 41% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 54%
% Black 11% 18%
% Hispanic 15% 13%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

 SC Messenger College
% In-State 37% 50%
% Out-of-State 53% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Sterling College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (706 students vs. 19 students)

SC vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Messenger College?

  • Sterling College is 200.6% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 200.6% higher at SC than Messenger College ($28,500.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than SC ($17,197 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 19.2% lower than costs at Sterling College ($7,832 vs. $9,336)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 152.5% larger than aid received Messenger College ($19,729 vs. $7,812)

SC vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • SC has a higher acceptance rate (61.1%) than Messenger College (50%)

SC vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Messenger College (48% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn on average $13,400 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $24,000)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger 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/