SC vs. Northwest

Deciding between Sterling College and Northwest Missouri State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northwest Missouri State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • SC Remote Town
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SC 694
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SC
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SC -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • SC Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SC
  • Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • SC $9,586
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • SC $23,531
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SC $23,673
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SC 100%
  • Northwest 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SC 820
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • SC 395
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SC 48.2%
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • SC 30.4%
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SC 1030
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • SC 21
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • SC 3.46
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SC B+
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SC Very Easy
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SC Low
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • SC 18/24
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • SC 938/1123
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SC Test optional
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SC Aug 17, 2027
  • Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SC 8:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SC 48%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SC $37,400
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SC 60%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SC $24,663
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SC $255
  • Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SC 56%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • SC 44%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SC Medium
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • SC No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • SC 68%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • SC 2%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • SC 11%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • SC 15%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • SC 2%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SC 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SC 0%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • SC 0%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SC 3%
  • Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SC 34%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SC 57%
  • Northwest 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SC Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SC No
  • Northwest No
  • Meal Plan
  • SC Yes
  • Northwest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SC No
  • Northwest No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SC No
  • Northwest No

Comparable Facts

Compare Sterling College in Sterling, KS with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Missouri State University is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (9,152 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

SC vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Northwest? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest Missouri State University than SC ($16,790 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 22% lower than at Northwest Missouri State University ($9,586 vs. $12,282).
  • Sterling College is 217.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest (about $23,089 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $10,611.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.5% higher at SC than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $16,376 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Northwest Missouri State University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 160.1% larger than aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students ($23,673 vs. $9,101).

SC vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or Northwest? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northwest and SC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwest Missouri State University (1080) is 50 points higher than at SC (1030).
  • Incoming SC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Northwest (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123; Northwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; Northwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Northwest (3.45).
  • Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 22.2% at Northwest.

SC vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and Northwest? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Northwest Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $337 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($24,663 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($255 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.