Sterling High School
1608 4Th Ave, Sterling, IL 61081. 56% of its 227 graduates enrolled in college within 12 months.
The path from Sterling
How Illinois measures this- 1
After graduation
4-year college 23.3%2-year college 32.8%Not enrolled within 12 months 44%Share of the most recent graduating class reported on the 2026 Illinois Report Card who enrolled in any college within 12 months. Source: Illinois State Board of Education, 2026 Illinois Report Card public data set.
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What those choices lead to
Illinois does not report which individual colleges each school's graduates attend. Here is how a typical college of each type in Illinois performs.
College type in Illinois Colleges Graduation rate Avg. net price / yr Median earnings, 10 yrs Median debt Public universities 12 51% $12,636 $60,394 $18,875 Public 2-year and community colleges 45 43% $5,553 $42,861 $7,836 Private nonprofit colleges 37 61% $19,426 $61,717 $22,597 Medians across colleges of each type with at least 500 undergraduates. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. All Illinois colleges.
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Colleges closest to Sterling
College Distance Graduation rate Avg. net price / yr Median earnings, 10 yrs Sauk Valley Community College 5.0 mi 52% $5,818 $45,327 Highland Community College 33.2 mi 49% $3,090 $42,080 Kishwaukee College 42.8 mi 44% $4,358 $43,671 Black Hawk College 45.1 mi 46% $4,349 $44,081 Illinois Valley Community College 45.9 mi 39% $3,176 $44,450 Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College 46.3 mi 68% $23,337 $35,942
Where it is
Nearby high schools: Rock Falls Township High School (1.8 mi, 55.2% to college) · Dixon High School (10.9 mi, 47.4% to college) · Chadwick-Milledgeville Jr/Sr High School (12.1 mi, 62.1% to college) · Polo Comm High School (14.2 mi, 61.4% to college) · Morrison High School (14.4 mi, 70.8% to college)
Living near a school does not guarantee attendance. Check Sterling CUSD 5's attendance zone for an address.
Compared with the district and state
| Measure | Sterling | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled in college within 12 months | 56% | 66.8% |
| Graduation rate | 86.3% | 89.8% |
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Quick answers
- What percent of Sterling High School graduates go to college?
- 56% of its most recent class at Sterling High School enrolled in college within 12 months, compared with 66.8% in Illinois. Source: Illinois State Board of Education, 2026 Illinois Report Card public data set.
- What is the graduation rate at Sterling High School?
- Sterling High School has a four-year graduation rate of 86.3%. Source: Illinois State Board of Education, 2026 Illinois Report Card public data set.
