
Sterling College is a private Christian college founded in Sterling, Kansas, in 1887 as Cooper Memorial College. It later adopted the Sterling College name, retaining a connection to Presbyterian higher education.
That history helps explain the college's present combination of liberal arts, professional programs and Christian education. Applicants searching for the school should specify Sterling College in Kansas: it is a different institution from Sterling College in Vermont.
Sterling College offers undergraduate study across the liberal arts and professional fields rather than operating as a large university with numerous separate colleges. Its academic offerings include education, business, biology, psychology, communication, criminal justice, music, theater and religious studies.
Students comparing majors should look beyond the program name to its course sequence, available concentrations and delivery format. Education applicants, in particular, should check which programs lead toward Kansas teacher licensure and what field placements or additional state requirements apply. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 8 to 1, but that institution-wide figure does not establish the size of any particular class or the availability of a required course.
Sterling College is in Sterling, a small community in central Kansas. Its setting differs from an urban campus: students should expect a college-centered town and plan ahead for transportation to destinations beyond the immediate area.
The college reports that first-year students may park a car on campus. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is a regional air-travel option, but getting between the airport and Sterling requires additional ground transportation. Applicants who expect to commute, work off campus or travel home regularly should account for those trips when estimating expenses.
Sterling College describes its educational mission in Christian terms, with an emphasis on developing thoughtful, creative leaders and a maturing Christian faith. Its religious identity is relevant to applicants evaluating the academic environment and campus activities.
A stated mission describes the education a college intends to provide; it does not, by itself, measure student outcomes. Prospective students may want to review the current catalog and student handbook for the specific expectations that accompany Sterling's Christian affiliation, including any requirements involving chapel, coursework or community conduct.
Name of the institution
Sterling College-KansasLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Rural: RemoteInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1887Sterling College-Kansas is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.