Sterling College vs Lawrence University

Sterling College and Lawrence University, while both offering exceptional educational experiences, present distinct characteristics that cater to different student preferences. Sterling College, nestled in the picturesque Craftsbury Common, Vermont, stands out with its intimate learning environment, boasting an acceptance rate of 80% and an average class size of 12. Lawrence University, located in the vibrant city of Appleton, Wisconsin, offers a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 63% and larger class sizes, averaging around 20 students. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Lawrence University logo

Lawrence University

Sterling College logo

Sterling College

Overview

Location Appleton, Wisconsin Sterling, Kansas
Campus setting City: Small Rural: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Trimester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 89.0% 55.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.0% 47.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $25
SAT range 1230 - 1460 996 - 1166
ACT range 27 - 32 18 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 24.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 37.0% 33.0%
Total number of applicants 2,907 2,574
Total number of admissions given out 2,179 1,220
Admitted students who chose to enroll 402 206
Yield rate 18.4% 16.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $65,445 $42,886
Average net price $24,804 $22,377
Tuition $52,101 $27,000
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,814

Meal plan: $5,370
Room/dormitory: $3,516

Meal plan: $5,608
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $39,841
100.0%
Average amount $18,158
Students receiving federal student loan 57.0%
Average amount $5,053
70.0%
Average amount $5,750
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $16,464
8.0%
Average amount $11,649

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,483
Men 45.8% Women 54.2%
686
Men 59.0% Women 41.0%
Graduate students N/A 14
Men 14.3% Women 85.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 73.1% N/A
International students 12.3% 5.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Rural: Distant
Dormitory capacity 1,460 635
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Texas California N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • History
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Education
  • Business
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 80.5% 43.2%
Dropout rate 19.0% 25.2%
Transferred out N/A 30.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: $51,421
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,019
  • Year 3: $35,410
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,329
  • Year 3: $32,588
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,667
  • Year 3: $31,648
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $27,840
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $27,395
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $24,417
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $20,533
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,960
  • Year 3: N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $23,113
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,167
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $34,697
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,026
  • Year 2: $36,745
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A

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