KU vs. SC

Deciding between University of Kansas and Sterling College? 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 Kansas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • SC Sterling, KS
  • Setting
  • KU Small City
  • SC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KU 29,792
  • SC 694
  • Type
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • SC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KU #317
  • SC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KU -
  • SC -
  • Status
  • KU Non-profit
  • SC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KU
  • SC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KU $12,102
  • SC $33,700
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KU $30,432
  • SC $33,700
  • Room & Board
  • KU $11,358
  • SC $9,586
  • Average Net Price
  • KU $19,205
  • SC $23,531
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KU $11,541
  • SC $23,673
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KU 91%
  • SC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KU 22,363
  • SC 820
  • Admitted
  • KU 20,905
  • SC 395
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KU 93.5%
  • SC 48.2%
  • Enrolled
  • KU 25.5%
  • SC 30.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KU 1190
  • SC 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • KU 24
  • SC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • KU 3.66
  • SC 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KU A-
  • SC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • KU Challenging
  • SC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • KU
  • SC Low
  • ACT Range
  • KU 20/28
  • SC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • KU 1070/1300
  • SC 938/1123
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KU Test optional
  • SC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • SC Aug 17, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KU 18:1
  • SC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • SC
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KU 61%
  • SC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KU $54,600
  • SC $37,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KU 66%
  • SC 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KU $20,500
  • SC $24,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KU $211
  • SC $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KU 46%
  • SC 56%
  • % Women
  • KU 54%
  • SC 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KU Medium
  • SC Medium
  • HBCU
  • KU No
  • SC No
  • % White
  • KU 72%
  • SC 68%
  • % Asian
  • KU 4%
  • SC 2%
  • % Black
  • KU 4%
  • SC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • KU 7%
  • SC 15%
  • % Native American
  • KU 0%
  • SC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KU 0%
  • SC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KU 5%
  • SC 0%
  • % International
  • KU 6%
  • SC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KU 1%
  • SC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KU 53%
  • SC 34%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KU 45%
  • SC 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS with Sterling College in Sterling, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kansas is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kansas 18:1; Sterling College 8:1.

KU vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or SC? 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 Kansas than SC ($19,205 vs. $23,531).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 15.6% lower than at University of Kansas ($9,586 vs. $11,358).
  • Sterling College is 178.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $21,598 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at SC than at University of Kansas (about $3,268 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 105.1% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($23,673 vs. $11,541).

KU vs. SC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 160 points higher than at SC (1030).
  • Incoming KU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at SC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 1070/1300; Sterling College 938/1123.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 20/28; Sterling College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KU - Test optional; SC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027; SC Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at SC (3.46).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than SC (48.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.5% at KU vs. 30.4% at SC.

KU vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KU and SC? 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 Kansas's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Sterling College's (48%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $4,163 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($20,500 vs. $24,663).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($211 vs. $255).
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

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.