SC vs. Central

Deciding between Sterling College and University of Central Missouri? 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.

University of Central Missouri

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Setting
  • SC Remote Town
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • SC 694
  • Central 12,857
  • Type
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SC
  • Central #723
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SC -
  • Central -
  • Status
  • SC Non-profit
  • Central Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SC
  • Central

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Central $10,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SC $33,700
  • Central $18,600
  • Room & Board
  • SC $9,586
  • Central $10,740
  • Average Net Price
  • SC $23,531
  • Central $14,943
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SC $23,673
  • Central $7,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SC 100%
  • Central 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SC 820
  • Central 5,647
  • Admitted
  • SC 395
  • Central 3,603
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SC 48.2%
  • Central 63.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SC 30.4%
  • Central 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SC 1030
  • Central
  • Typical ACT score
  • SC 21
  • Central 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • SC 3.46
  • Central 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SC B+
  • Central A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SC Very Easy
  • Central Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SC Low
  • Central Low
  • ACT Range
  • SC 18/24
  • Central 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • SC 938/1123
  • Central
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SC Test optional
  • Central Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SC Aug 17, 2027
  • Central

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SC 8:1
  • Central 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Central
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SC 48%
  • Central 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SC $37,400
  • Central $41,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SC 60%
  • Central 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SC $24,663
  • Central $22,441
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SC $255
  • Central $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SC 56%
  • Central 46%
  • % Women
  • SC 44%
  • Central 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SC Medium
  • Central Low
  • HBCU
  • SC No
  • Central No
  • % White
  • SC 68%
  • Central 77%
  • % Asian
  • SC 2%
  • Central 1%
  • % Black
  • SC 11%
  • Central 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • SC 15%
  • Central 4%
  • % Native American
  • SC 2%
  • Central 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SC 0%
  • Central 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SC 0%
  • Central 4%
  • % International
  • SC 0%
  • Central 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SC 3%
  • Central 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SC 34%
  • Central 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SC 57%
  • Central 15%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Central Missouri is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sterling College is located in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting); University of Central Missouri is in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sterling College 8:1; University of Central Missouri 18:1.

SC vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Central? 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 University of Central Missouri than SC ($14,943 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 10.7% lower than at University of Central Missouri ($9,586 vs. $10,740).
  • Sterling College is 235.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central (about $23,650 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $10,050.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.2% higher at SC than at University of Central Missouri (about $15,100 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $18,600.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at University of Central Missouri (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 203.1% larger than aid received by University of Central Missouri students ($23,673 vs. $7,811).

SC vs. Central Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SC or Central? 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 Central and SC.

  • Incoming Central students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at SC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 938/1123.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sterling College 18/24; University of Central Missouri 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SC - Test optional; Central - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at SC (3.46).
  • Central has a higher acceptance rate (63.8%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.4% at SC vs. 28.6% at Central.

SC vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SC and Central? 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).

  • University of Central Missouri's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Missouri graduates have a $2,222 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($22,441 vs. $24,663).
  • Among borrowers, Central graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($232 vs. $255).
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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.