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Is Sterling College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Sterling, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Sterling lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $22,371 in yearly net price and $24,625 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $45,846. For context, Sterling's net price is about 1% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$22,996
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $159 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $1,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$22,371
Median earnings 10 years out
$45,846
Median debt at graduation
$24,625
Graduation rate
34%
At Sterling, a typical graduate carries about $24,625 in student debt and earns roughly $45,846 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $280 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Sterling is a private nonprofit four year school in Sterling, KS. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, KS
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $22,519
Private nonprofit 4-year
Kansas Wesleyan
Salina, KS
Worth-It Score: 46/100
Median net price: $22,671
Private nonprofit 4-year
Manhattan Christian
Manhattan, KS
Worth-It Score: 45/100
Median net price: $24,213
Private nonprofit 4-year
Tabor
Hillsboro, KS
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $20,205
Private nonprofit 4-year
Baker
Baldwin City, KS
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $25,301
Common questions about Sterling
The median net price at Sterling is $22,371 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Kansas? See the most affordable private colleges in Kansas →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →