Sterling College
Degree Subject
Degree Level
Sterling College
Sterling College is a private non-profit Christ Centered four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Sterling, Kansas. It offers undergraduate education from a Christian point of view and its mission is to assist students in becoming creative and thoughtful leaders who have a solid understanding of the Christian faith. It has an active partnership with the church and community and its core values are faith, calling, learning, integrity, service, and community. Sterling College is dedicated to providing a learning environment that promotes students to explore the truth of God’s Word. Christian faith and experience are integrated into all aspects of the college experience at Sterling College and it seeks to develop a Christ-centered worldview. Sterling College strives for excellent education through an array of learning approaches and the curriculum provides students with a broad academic experience with enough depth to prepare students to succeed in a constantly changing world.
Sterling College Online is committed to offering excellent educational programs that respond to the needs of non-traditional students as well as the demands of the community, industry, and workforce. The online programs are fully accredited and are developed with high quality standards for content and instruction. Sterling College Online offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in elementary education, history, mathematics, professional studies, Christian ministries, and theological studies. Online courses start at six different dates throughout the year and students are able to access courses at anytime from anywhere with an Internet connection. The courses are kept small with 12 to 15 students to promote personalized attention and a sense of community between peers that offer support and encourages discussions. All members of Sterling College Online are committed to student success. Team members include faculty, student services, admissions advisors, and the technical support team. Faculty and staff are committed to providing timely responses and answer questions and concerns within 24 hours. Student services assist students with small details so they can focus on larger educational goals. Technical support is available round the clock to help students at any time. Sterling College Online provides a variety of resources to aid in student success in online learning. The online library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and students have access to a variety of online resources to make research convenient and easy.
The Synod of Kansas of the United Presbyterian Church of North America founded Sterling College as Cooper Memorial College in 1887. The college originally offered four majors and high school courses. The original four courses included a business course, Classical Course with a general liberal arts focus, Normal Course for aspiring teaching, English course for future school administrators. The original courses remain the main focus of Sterling College today. The college became Sterling College in 1920. Sterling College established its online division in 2007.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association accredits Sterling College.
Schools of Education
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences: offers various programs such as art and design, biology, chemistry, Christian ministries, English, history, mathematics, music, psychology, and theological studies.
School of Professional Studies: offers a variety of programs including athletic training, business administration, elementary education, exercise science, music education, and sports management.
Scholarships Offered
Sterling College offers scholarships for every student admitted. It offers academic and athletic scholarships including the National Merit Finalist, College of Emporia Alumni Scholarships, Samuel Robinson Scholarships, National Presbyterian College Scholarships, and Park College Scholarship.
Financing Options
Sterling College participates in all federally-funded financial aid programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan, Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART), Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), and Tribal Grants. It also accepts state financial aid including the Kansas Comprehensive Grant, Ethnic Minority Scholarships, Kansas Teacher Scholarships, Kansas State Scholarships, and grants from other states. Students can also use alternative loans and use the Tuition Management Systems Payment Plan to finance their education.
Credit Earning Options
Sterling College grants transfer credit for previous courses completed at other accredited colleges and universities. All transfer courses must have a grade of a C- or better. Transfer students are able to transfer up to 65 credit hours from a two-year institution and if a student has more than 65 hours from a four-year institution, the credits will be considered on an individual basis. Students can also receive credits for examination such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES), and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Sterling College also provides its own credit by examination in select subjects that enable students to test out of particular courses.