SC vs. OC Comets

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

 SC OC Comets
Location Sterling, KS Olivet, MI
Setting Remote Town Distant Rural
Enrollment 706 919
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu olivetcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC OC Comets
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $31,664
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $31,664
Room & Board $9,336 $11,242
Avg Net Price $22,680 $21,394
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $23,361
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 SC OC Comets
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 1,439
Admitted 1,197 1,218
Acceptance Rate 61.1% 84.6%
Enrolled % 13.4% 22.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/23
SAT Range 938/1123 910/1120
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 OC Comets
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (15%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

 SC OC Comets
Graduation Rate 48% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

 SC OC Comets
% Men 59% 62%
% Women 41% 38%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 75%
% Black 11% 13%
% Hispanic 15% 7%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 SC OC Comets
% In-State 37% 85%
% Out-of-State 53% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Olivet College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (919 students vs. 706 students)

SC vs. OC Comets Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or OC Comets?

  • Olivet College is 11.1% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($31,664.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.1% higher at OC Comets than Sterling College ($31,664.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Olivet College than SC ($21,394 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 20.4% lower than costs at Olivet College ($9,336 vs. $11,242)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College as Olivet College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Olivet College students is 18.4% larger than aid received Sterling College ($23,361 vs. $19,729)

SC vs. OC Comets Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Sterling College (990) is 59 points higher than at OC Comets (931)
  • Incoming SC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at OC Comets (20)
  • OC Comets has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than SC (61.1%)

SC vs. OC Comets Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or OC Comets? 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 OC Comets and SC.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than Olivet College (48% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Olivet College earn on average $1,900 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($39,300 vs. $37,400)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $2,337 lower median federal student loan debt than OC Comets graduates. ($24,663 vs. $27,000)
  • SC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than OC Comets graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC Comets students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/