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UCO-Central ULM OSU-Oklahoma City RSU MSU ECU Purdue North Central OU Union College TAMUK OU Cameron University| Sterling College | Northeastern State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SC | NSU | ||
| Location | Sterling, KS | Tahlequah, OK | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 706 | 6,702 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #933 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sterling.edu | nsuok.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SC | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,500 | $6,285 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,500 | $15,270 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,336 | $8,292 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,680 | $9,669 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,729 | $8,528 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
SC | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,959 | 1,674 | ||
| Admitted | 1,197 | 1,665 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.1% | 99.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.4% | 42.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.49 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 938/1123 | 875/1130 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
SC | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SC | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,400 | $40,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 48% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,663 | $18,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | $186 |
Diversity |
SC | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 59% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 41% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 2% | 19% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 17% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
SC | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 37% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 53% | 8% | ||
Campus |
SC | NSU | ||
| 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
- Northeastern State University is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (6,702 students vs. 706 students)
SC vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SC or NSU?
- Sterling College is 353.5% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $6,285.00)
- Out of state tuition is 86.6% higher at SC than Northeastern State University ($28,500.00 vs. $15,270.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than SC ($9,669 vs. $22,680)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 12.6% lower than costs at Sterling College ($8,292 vs. $9,336)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Northeastern State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 131.3% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($19,729 vs. $8,528)
SC vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SC or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or SC .
- The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 2 points higher than at NSU (988)
- Incoming SC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at NSU (21)
- Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at SC (3.46)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than SC (61.1%)
SC vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SC or NSU? 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 NSU and SC.
- The graduation rate at SC is higher than Northeastern State University (48% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Northeastern State University earn on average $2,800 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $37,400)
- Northeastern State University students graduate with a $6,663 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($18,000 vs. $24,663)
- NSU graduates are paying $69 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($186 vs. $255)
- More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 48%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/