SC vs. UCO-Central

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

 SC UCO-Central
Location Sterling, KS Edmond, OK
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 707 12,148
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #798
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu uco.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC UCO-Central
Tuition (In State) $30,000 $7,284
Tuition (Out of State) $30,000 $18,171
Room & Board $9,532 $8,886
Avg Net Price $22,996 $18,893
Avg Grant Aid $21,778 $6,309
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 82%

Admission

 SC UCO-Central
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 826 4,945
Admitted 438 4,043
Acceptance Rate 53% 81.8%
Enrolled % 32.4% 46.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2026

Academics

 SC UCO-Central
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%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

 SC UCO-Central
Graduation Rate 48% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $20,393
Median Loan Payment $255 $210

Diversity

 SC UCO-Central
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 2% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 57%
% Black 11% 9%
% Hispanic 15% 9%
% Native American 2% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 9%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 SC UCO-Central
% In-State 42% 90%
% Out-of-State 54% 5%

Campus

 SC UCO-Central
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

  • University of Central Oklahoma is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (12,148 students vs. 707 students)

SC vs. UCO-Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or UCO-Central?

  • Sterling College is 311.9% more expensive to attend than UCO-Central for in-state tuition ($30,000.00 vs. $7,284.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 65.1% higher at SC than University of Central Oklahoma ($30,000.00 vs. $18,171.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Oklahoma than SC ($18,893 vs. $22,996)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Oklahoma are 7.3% lower than costs at Sterling College ($8,886 vs. $9,532)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than University of Central Oklahoma (100% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 245.2% larger than aid received University of Central Oklahoma ($21,778 vs. $6,309)

SC vs. UCO-Central Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Oklahoma (1010) is 20 points higher than at SC (990)
  • Incoming SC students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at UCO-Central (22)
  • Accepted freshman UCO-Central students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at SC (3.46)
  • UCO-Central has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than SC (53%)

SC vs. UCO-Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SC or UCO-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 UCO-Central and SC.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than University of Central Oklahoma (48% vs. 36%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Oklahoma earn on average $7,200 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $37,400)
  • University of Central Oklahoma students graduate with a $4,270 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($20,393 vs. $24,663)
  • UCO-Central graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($210 vs. $255)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCO-Central students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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