Sterling College vs University of Saint Mary
Sterling College and University of Saint Mary, both located in Kansas, offer distinct educational experiences. Sterling College, a private Christian liberal arts college, boasts a 99% acceptance rate, while University of Saint Mary, a private Catholic university, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 88%. Sterling College's popular majors include Business Administration, Elementary Education, and Psychology, while University of Saint Mary's popular majors include Nursing, Business Administration, and Elementary Education. Sterling College's student body is predominantly White (86%) and female (61%), while University of Saint Mary's student body is more diverse, with a larger percentage of Hispanic (23%) and male (49%) students. Sterling College has a higher graduation rate (63%) compared to University of Saint Mary's (58%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which institution aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
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![]() Sterling College |
![]() University of Saint Mary |
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Overview |
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Location | Sterling, Kansas | Leavenworth, Kansas |
Campus setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 55.0% | 52.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.4% | 80.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
|
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
|
SAT range | 996 - 1166 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 25 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 12.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 33.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,574 | 1,805 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,220 | 1,461 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 206 | 242 |
Yield rate | 16.9% | 16.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $42,886 | $44,190 |
Average net price | $22,377 | $23,801 |
Tuition | $27,000 | $30,580 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$3,516
Meal plan:
$5,608
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Room/dormitory:
$4,325
Meal plan:
$4,390
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $18,158 |
99.0%
Average amount $19,936 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,750 |
96.0%
Average amount $5,064 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $11,649 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,369 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
686
Men 59.0% Women 41.0% |
858
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
Graduate students |
14
Men 14.3% Women 85.7% |
422
Men 36.0% Women 64.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 60.6% |
International students | 5.3% | 0.6% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 635 | 360 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Kansas Missouri Texas California Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 43.2% | 46.7% |
Dropout rate | 25.2% | 13.3% |
Transferred out | 30.9% | 40.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
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