Sterling College vs University of the Southwest

Sterling College and University of the Southwest, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Sterling College, nestled in the picturesque town of Sterling, Kansas, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on experiential learning and environmental stewardship. In contrast, University of the Southwest, located in the vibrant city of Hobbs, New Mexico, emphasizes career preparation and offers a diverse range of academic programs. While Sterling College prides itself on its low acceptance rate and personalized attention, University of the Southwest welcomes a broader range of students, providing accessible pathways to higher education. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, including popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, to determine which institution best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Sterling College	University of the Southwest
Overview
Location	Sterling, Kansas	Hobbs, New Mexico
Campus setting	Rural: Distant	Rural: 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%	69.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	47.4%	45.4%
Application fees	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	282
Total number of admissions given out	1,220	128
Admitted students who chose to enroll	206	89
Yield rate	16.9%	69.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A
High school GPA	Required	N/A
Recommendation letters	Not required	N/A
High school transcript	Not required	N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	N/A

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$42,886	$32,200
Average net price	$22,377	$19,139
Tuition	$27,000	$16,000
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $3,516 Meal plan: $5,608	Room/dormitory: $4,700 Meal plan: $4,110
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $18,158	96.0% Average amount $11,782
Students receiving federal student loan	70.0% Average amount $5,750	62.0% Average amount $5,421
Students taking out private loans	8.0% Average amount $11,649	4.0% Average amount $8,000

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	686 Men 59.0% Women 41.0%	414 Men 56.0% Women 44.0%
Graduate students	14 Men 14.3% Women 85.7%	650 Men 28.2% Women 71.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	5.3%	N/A
Campus local/setting	Rural: Distant	Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity	635	244
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Law Enforcement and Firefighting Education Business	Education Business Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Health Professions Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	10:1	19:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	43.2%	9.1%
Dropout rate	25.2%	90.9%
Transferred out	30.9%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $47,026 Year 2: $47,650 Year 3: $48,219 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,861 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $35,815 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,409 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $41,784 Year 2: $47,260 Year 3: N/A Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,468 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A

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Sterling College vs University of the Southwest

Sterling College

University of the Southwest

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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