Sterling College

Developing Leaders Called to Serve in a Changing World

Educating with a Clear Sense of Purpose and a Focus on Its Students

 

For nearly 140 years, Sterling College has been educating students with a clear sense of purpose and a deep commitment to service. Founded in 1887 and rooted in a Christian liberal arts tradition, the college has built its reputation on developing graduates who are thoughtful, engaged, and prepared to lead in both their professions and their communities.

That purpose is evident across a campus where learning extends well beyond the classroom. Sterling’s academic programs combine intellectual rigor with real-world application, while its close-knit environment ensures students are known personally, challenged consistently, and supported throughout their journey. The result is an educational experience that intentionally shapes character while building knowledge.

“Our mission is to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith,” says Scott Rich, President of Sterling College. “That mission is lived out through our core values of faith, calling, learning, integrity, service, and community.”

Those values, Rich explains, are not abstract ideals. They actively guide how Sterling teaches, partners with its community, and prepares students to navigate a future that demands both adaptability and purpose.

Living Out Service Leadership Through Community

Service is not an extracurricular option at Sterling College. It is an expectation that begins the moment students arrive on campus.

“Servant leadership is intrinsically valuable to us,” Rich explains. “When students and families come to campus, we hope they feel that value immediately in the way they are welcomed and served.”

Each student is required to complete volunteer and service hours throughout the academic year, many of which are fulfilled through off-campus partnerships. Located in a town of approximately 2,500 residents, Sterling College plays a significant role in the local community, and that relationship is reciprocal.

One of the most visible expressions of this commitment is Love Sterling, an annual day of service in which the entire campus pauses normal operations to focus on community projects.

“Faculty, staff, and students work together across town on projects for schools, retirement communities, and residents who may not be able to help themselves,” Rich notes. “It is a powerful reminder that education and service are inseparable.”

Another hallmark of Sterling’s community engagement is its host family program, which connects students with local families.

“We have families who essentially adopt students,” Rich adds. “They invite them for home-cooked meals, laundry days, or simply a place to belong. Over time, many of these relationships become lifelong.”

With students representing more than 30 countries and 37 states, the program helps bridge distance and fosters a sense of home for those far from family.

Facilities Designed for Partnership

A strong sense of partnership also shapes Sterling College’s approach to its physical campus, with facilities designed to support both the institution and the broader community. Rather than operating in isolation, the college views its spaces as shared assets that help strengthen long-standing local relationships.

“Our facilities are very much a combined effort,” Rich says. “The community is always invited to use them.”

The college’s indoor pool is open to residents during the winter months, and Sterling maintains a decades-long partnership with the local public school district, USD 376, sharing football, track, and field facilities. Rich notes that these cooperative arrangements reflect a mutual commitment to serving students at every stage of their education and continue to grow stronger over time.

That collaborative spirit extends naturally into academics.

Raising the Bar with Dual Enrollment

Sterling College’s relationship with local school districts is particularly strong in dual credit and concurrent enrollment.

“We treat concurrent enrollment faculty as our own,” Rich explains. “They attend our trainings, receive faculty IDs, and teach to the same standards and learning outcomes.”

In addition, Sterling places a significant number of student teachers in the local district, many of whom secure full-time teaching positions before graduation.

“Education has historically been one of our strongest programs,” Rich says. “Our graduates are in high demand, and many are already teaching in the region.”

Through early exposure to college-level coursework and meaningful interaction with Sterling students and faculty, high school students gain a clear sense of what post-secondary education can look like.

“We hope that experience gives them a taste of Sterling,” Rich adds, “and encourages them to continue their education with us.”

Developing Well-Rounded Students

At Sterling College, athletics and the arts are not competing priorities. They are complementary components of a holistic education.

“Collegiate athletics is often the front door to our campus,” Rich says. “But it is really about activities overall.”

Students are encouraged to pursue multiple interests, whether in the field, on the stage, or in the classroom.

“A student might play football and sing in the choir or participate in theater,” Rich explains. “We want them to continue doing what they are passionate about.”

This philosophy reinforces the college’s emphasis on developing well-rounded individuals.

“So much learning happens outside the classroom,” Rich notes. “On the court, on the stage, and through teamwork and discipline.”

Infrastructure That Reflects a Long-Term Vision

One of Sterling College’s most significant recent accomplishments is the expansion and renovation of the Gleason Physical Education Center.

“That project included the Dudrey Health Science Center, the Wilkey Fieldhouse, a fitness center, pool renovations, and additional parking,” Rich says.

Athletic training and sports medicine remain among the college’s most popular and respected programs, supported by state-of-the-art facilities funded largely through local donors.

Looking ahead, Sterling is preparing for its next major capital project.

“We have a lead donor who has pledged $10 million toward a science and research center,” Rich explains. The future facility is expected to support STEM education, mathematics, and applied research, potentially including collaboration with industry professionals who work alongside students.

“That real-world research excites me,” Rich adds. “Students learning shoulder to shoulder with experts is transformative.”

In addition, the college is working with the local school district on plans to install a new turf football field and replace the track, reinforcing the shared investment in community infrastructure.

Academic Strengths with Real-World Relevance

Sterling College offers a range of academic programs aligned with both tradition and emerging workforce needs.

“Our strongest areas include athletic training and sports medicine, criminal justice, business, and education,” Rich says.

The college also supports students pursuing pre-professional pathways in physical therapy, medicine, and chiropractic studies, with many completing undergraduate work at Sterling before transitioning to graduate programs elsewhere.

Despite evolving job markets, Sterling remains committed to its liberal arts foundation.

“We want graduates who can think critically and learn continuously,” Rich explains. “Employers consistently tell us they want people who can adapt, communicate, and make decisions.”

That adaptability, Rich notes, often leads graduates into careers outside their original discipline.

“They may take jobs that did not exist when they were freshmen,” he says. “Our goal is to prepare them for that reality.”

Educational Experiences Defined by Relationships

While Sterling meets all accreditation and disciplinary standards, faculty are intentionally given the freedom to bring their expertise, professional insight, and lived experience into the classroom, keeping coursework relevant and responsive to the world students are preparing to enter.
“I trust our faculty,” Rich says. “They teach our mission while staying current with their fields.”

That approach is reinforced through small class sizes that foster both accountability and meaningful connection.
“Faculty notice when a student is missing,” Rich explains. “They know their students by name.”

Those relationships often extend beyond the classroom, with many faculty members welcoming students into their homes for meals, study sessions, or conversation.
“That relational conduit is how education really happens,” Rich adds.

Aligning Academic Vision with Workforce Needs

Sterling College is actively evaluating future academic offerings while remaining mindful of its identity.

“We are looking at cultural and workforce trends,” Rich notes. “And we are also open to sunsetting programs that have served their purpose.”

One of the most promising opportunities on the horizon involves a major manufacturing company relocating its global headquarters near campus.

“They are bringing hundreds of jobs to the area,” Rich says. “Our focus now is understanding how we can support their workforce development needs.”

Through partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, county leadership, and local businesses, Sterling maintains a clear lens on economic drivers while preserving its liberal arts foundation.

“Internships, workforce readiness, and community leadership all intersect here,” Rich adds.

A Commitment to Learning and Leadership

At its core, Sterling College views education as the cornerstone of economic, cultural, and civic life.

“Education is the foundation for the future,” Rich says. “It shapes everything.”

By continuing to produce high-quality educators, leaders, and lifelong learners, Sterling College ensures that its impact extends far beyond campus boundaries.

“Our students leave here prepared to serve, to learn, and to lead,” Rich concludes. “That has been true for more than a century, and it remains our calling today.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Sterling College

What: A faith-based liberal arts institution dedicated to developing thoughtful, servant-minded leaders.

Where: Sterling, Kansas

Website: www.sterling.edu