Should I go to Sterling College or Missouri Southern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or Missouri Southern 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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Missouri State University-Springfield MWSU MSU University of Missouri-Columbia Arkansas Southwest Baptist University Pitt State| Sterling College | Missouri Southern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
| Location | Sterling, KS | Joplin, MO | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 707 | 4,090 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #921 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sterling.edu | mssu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,000 | $8,400 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,000 | $16,800 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,532 | $7,172 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,996 | $11,264 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,778 | $7,514 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 91% |
Admission |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 826 | 2,302 | ||
| Admitted | 438 | 2,243 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 53% | 97.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 32.4% | 25.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 938/1123 | 1000/1170 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $36,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,663 | $20,831 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | $215 |
Diversity |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 3% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 1% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 42% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 54% | 27% | ||
Campus |
SC | Missouri Southern | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, SC or Missouri Southern?
Which college is harder to get into, SC or Missouri Southern? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Missouri Southern or SC .
Which is better, SC or Missouri Southern? 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 Missouri Southern and SC.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/