SelectiveReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

Sterling College acceptance rate and admissions profile

Sterling College is a private college in Kansas that admits roughly 48% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Sterling College weighs, where it ranks among Kansas schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
48%
Selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1120
of admitted students
Type
Private
Kansas
Selectivity in state
#1
of 25 in KS
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Will I get into Sterling College?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Sterling College, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Sterling College?

At Sterling College, your real chance depends on far more than the published 48% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Sterling College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Sterling College hard to get into?

Sterling College is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 48% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Sterling College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Sterling College, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Sterling College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Sterling College?

Sterling College does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Sterling College.

Calculate your chances at Sterling College

What Sterling College looks for

What Sterling College weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Sterling College signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Sterling College's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Important
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Important
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Sterling College

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Sterling College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Sterling College compares in Kansas

Sterling College ranks #1 most selective of 25 schools in Kansas in our database.

Among the 25 Kansas schools we track, Sterling College ranks the most selective by acceptance rate. Nothing else in the state is harder to get into; the next tier down includes Central Christian College at 53%.

Central Christian College
53%acceptance · KS
Central Christian College of Kansas
53%acceptance · KS
Friends University
55%acceptance · KS
Bethany College (KS)
56%acceptance · KS
Hesston College
65%acceptance · KS
Tabor College
65%acceptance · KS
Kansas Wesleyan University
72%acceptance · KS
Newman University
74%acceptance · KS
See all Kansas schools →

Similar to Sterling College

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Sterling College is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Santa Clara University, Austin College, and Rollins College. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Santa Clara University
48%acceptance · CA
Austin College
48%acceptance · TX
Rollins College
48%acceptance · FL
St. Olaf College
48%acceptance · MN
Stevens Institute of Technology
48%acceptance · NJ
Judson University
48%acceptance · IL

Frequently asked questions

What does Sterling College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Sterling College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Sterling College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Sterling College's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Sterling College?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Sterling College specifically.

Is Sterling College a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Sterling College's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.