SC vs. NSU

Should I go to Sterling College or Northeastern State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or NSU 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. Northeastern State University comparison
Sterling College Northeastern State University College 3 College 4
Northeastern State University
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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
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

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/