SC vs. WSC

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

 SC WSC
Location Sterling, KS Wayne, NE
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 706 4,773
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sterling.edu wsc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SC WSC
Tuition (In State) $28,500 $5,700
Tuition (Out of State) $28,500 $5,700
Room & Board $9,336 $8,870
Avg Net Price $22,680 $14,271
Avg Grant Aid $19,729 $7,838
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 SC WSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,959 -
Admitted 1,197 -
Acceptance Rate 61.1% Open
Enrolled % 13.4% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2025

Academics

 SC WSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Education (30%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 SC WSC
Graduation Rate 48% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $39,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,663 $20,050
Median Loan Payment $255 $207

Diversity

 SC WSC
% Men 59% 40%
% Women 41% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 82%
% Black 11% 3%
% Hispanic 15% 7%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 SC WSC
% In-State 37% 81%
% Out-of-State 53% 15%

Campus

 SC WSC
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

  • Wayne State College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (4,773 students vs. 706 students)

SC vs. WSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SC or WSC?

  • Sterling College is 400% more expensive to attend than WSC for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $5,700.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 400% higher at SC than Wayne State College ($28,500.00 vs. $5,700.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State College than SC ($14,271 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State College are 5.3% lower than costs at Sterling College ($8,870 vs. $9,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Wayne State College (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 151.7% larger than aid received Wayne State College ($19,729 vs. $7,838)

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

  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at WSC (3.36)

SC vs. WSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WSC is higher than Sterling College (51% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State College earn on average $2,000 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($39,400 vs. $37,400)
  • Wayne State College students graduate with a $4,613 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($20,050 vs. $24,663)
  • WSC graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($207 vs. $255)
  • More WSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 60%)

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