SC vs. Central

Should I go to Sterling College or University of Central Missouri? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SC or Central 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. University of Central Missouri comparison
Sterling College University of Central Missouri College 3 College 4
University of Central Missouri
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Overview

 SC Central
Location Sterling, KS Warrensburg, MO
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 706 11,637
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #708
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu ucmo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC Central
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $8,040
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $16,080
Room & Board $9,336 $9,699
Avg Net Price $22,680 $15,117
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $6,517
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 SC Central
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 4,993
Admitted 1,197 3,562
Acceptance Rate 61.1% 71.3%
Enrolled % 13.4% 28.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24 19/25
SAT Range 938/1123
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 Central
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 SC Central
% Men 59% 46%
% Women 41% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 77%
% Black 11% 11%
% Hispanic 15% 4%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 SC Central
% In-State 37% 88%
% Out-of-State 53% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Missouri is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (11,637 students vs. 706 students)

SC vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or Central?

  • Sterling College is 254.5% more expensive to attend than Central for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $8,040.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.2% higher at SC than University of Central Missouri ($28,500.00 vs. $16,080.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Missouri than SC ($15,117 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 3.9% lower than costs at University of Central Missouri ($9,336 vs. $9,699)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than University of Central Missouri (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 202.7% larger than aid received University of Central Missouri ($19,729 vs. $6,517)

SC vs. Central Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Missouri (1010) is 20 points higher than at SC (990)
  • Incoming SC students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Central (22)
  • 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 (71.3%) than SC (61.1%)

SC vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or Central? 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 Central and SC.

  • The graduation rate at Central is higher than Sterling College (50% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn on average $4,100 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $37,400)
  • University of Central Missouri students graduate with a $2,222 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($22,441 vs. $24,663)
  • Central graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans 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/