Colleges and Universities
Area colleges work closely with business and government leaders to ensure they’re offering classes and programs that deliver the experience and training local industries need.
Community/Technical/Vocational Colleges
| School | Location | Distance from Sterling | Phone |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon, IL | 5.5 miles | 815-288-5511 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | 52 miles | 309-796-5000 |
| Morrison Institute of Technology | Morrison, IL | 15 miles | 815-772-7218 |
| Quad-Cities Graduate Studies Center* | Rock Island, IL | 60 miles | 309-794-7376 |
| Whiteside Area Career Center** | Sterling, IL | n/a | 815-626-5810 |
*Offers distance learning, some graduate programs and technical certificates
**The career/technical campus of 18 area high schools. Provides training in five cluster areas: Business and Related Technology, Consumer Services, Industrial Technology, Transportation Services, and Work Experience Coop.
Regional colleges and universities
| Augustana College | Rock Island, IL | 45 miles | 800-798-8100 |
| Ashford University | Clintin, IA | 29 miles | 866-711-1700 |
| WIU- Quad Cities Campus | Moline, IL | 52 miles | 309-762-9481 |
| Northern IL University | Dekalb, IL | 56 miles | 815-753-1000 |
| Quad-Cities Graduate Studies Center* | Rock Island, IL | 60 miles | 309-794-7376 |
*Offers distance learning, some graduate programs and technical certificates