Wartburg College vs. SC

Should I go to Wartburg College or Sterling College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wartburg College or SC 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Grand View University ISU UIU UNI Simpson College Central College Augustana
Wartburg College vs. Sterling College comparison
Wartburg College Sterling College College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Wartburg College SC
Location Waverly, IA Sterling, KS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,444 706
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #654
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wartburg.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Wartburg College SC
Tuition (In State) $46,740 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $46,740 $28,500
Room & Board $10,280 $9,336
Avg Net Price $23,683 $22,680
Avg Grant Aid $36,157 $19,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

 Wartburg College SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,779 1,959
Admitted 2,708 1,197
Acceptance Rate 97.4% 61.1%
Enrolled % 13% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 970/1120 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

 Wartburg College SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Wartburg College SC
Graduation Rate 63% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,100 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $279 $255

Diversity

 Wartburg College SC
% Men 49% 59%
% Women 51% 41%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 68%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 15%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 8% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

 Wartburg College SC
% In-State 70% 37%
% Out-of-State 27% 53%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wartburg College is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (1,444 students vs. 706 students)

Wartburg College vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College or SC?

  • Wartburg College is 64% more expensive to attend than SC for in-state tuition ($46,740.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64% higher at Wartburg College than Sterling College ($46,740.00 vs. $28,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sterling College than Wartburg College ($22,680 vs. $23,683)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 10.1% lower than costs at Wartburg College ($9,336 vs. $10,280)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Wartburg College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 83.3% larger than aid received Sterling College ($36,157 vs. $19,729)

Wartburg College vs. SC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wartburg College (1105) is 115 points higher than at SC (990)
  • Incoming Wartburg College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SC (22)
  • Accepted freshman Wartburg College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at SC (3.46)
  • Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than SC (61.1%)

Wartburg College vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wartburg College or SC? 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 SC and Wartburg College.

  • The graduation rate at Wartburg College is higher than Sterling College (63% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Wartburg College earn on average $10,700 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($48,100 vs. $37,400)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $2,337 lower median federal student loan debt than Wartburg College graduates. ($24,663 vs. $27,000)
  • SC graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Wartburg College graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 60%)

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