SC vs. UNK

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

 SC UNK
Location Sterling, KS Kearney, NE
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 707 6,017
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #574
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC UNK
Tuition (In State) $30,000 $6,450
Tuition (Out of State) $30,000 $12,418
Room & Board $9,532 $11,936
Avg Net Price $22,996 $16,249
Avg Grant Aid $21,778 $8,779
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

 SC UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 826 7,253
Admitted 438 6,222
Acceptance Rate 53% 85.8%
Enrolled % 32.4% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.24
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/25
SAT Range 938/1123 970/1150
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 SC UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

 SC UNK
Graduation Rate 48% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $255 $219

Diversity

 SC UNK
% Men 2% 8%
% Women 2% 22%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 79%
% Black 11% 2%
% Hispanic 15% 11%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 SC UNK
% In-State 42% 86%
% Out-of-State 54% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (6,017 students vs. 707 students)

SC vs. UNK Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or UNK?

  • Sterling College is 365.1% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($30,000.00 vs. $6,450.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 141.6% higher at SC than University of Nebraska at Kearney ($30,000.00 vs. $12,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Kearney than SC ($16,249 vs. $22,996)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 25.2% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($9,532 vs. $11,936)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than University of Nebraska at Kearney (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 148.1% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($21,778 vs. $8,779)

SC vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 59 points higher than at SC (990)
  • Incoming UNK students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SC (22)
  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UNK (3.24)
  • UNK has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than SC (53%)

SC vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Sterling College (61% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $6,000 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $37,400)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $3,413 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($21,250 vs. $24,663)
  • UNK graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($219 vs. $255)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

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