Sterling College vs Central Christian College of Kansas: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Christian College of Kansas comes closer — median earnings $44,468 against a $45,616 total, vs $45,846 at Sterling College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sterling College | Central Christian College of Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,371 | $11,404 |
| Total net cost | $89,484 | $45,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,846 | $44,468 |
| Median debt | $24,625 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$139,764 | -$123,456 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Sterling College or Central Christian College of Kansas?
Central Christian College of Kansas, at $11,404 a year after aid versus $22,371 — a gap of $10,967 a year, or $43,868 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Sterling College or Central Christian College of Kansas graduates earn more?
Sterling College graduates report a median $45,846 ten years after entry, $1,378 more than the $44,468 at Central Christian College of Kansas. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Sterling College or Central Christian College of Kansas?
Sterling College: its completers carry a median $24,625 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Central Christian College of Kansas, a difference of $2,375. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Sterling College, against 27% at Central Christian College of Kansas. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.