As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission On February 20, 2013

Registration Nos. 33-49098

811-06719

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933	x
Post-Effective Amendment No. 92	x

and

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940	x
Amendment No. 93	x

STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

434 Fayetteville Street, Fifth Floor, Raleigh, NC 27601

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including Area Code:

(800) 228-1872

James T. Gillespie, President

Sterling Capital Funds

434 Fayetteville Street, Fifth Floor

Raleigh, NC 27601

(Name and address of agent for service)

Copies of communications to:

Thomas R. Hiller, Esquire

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02119

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

x immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨ on                      pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)

¨ on                      pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)

¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)

¨ on                     pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)

If appropriate, check the following box:

¨ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for post-effective amendment No.     filed on [date].

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Massachusetts on the 20th day of February, 2013.

STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS

/s/ James T. Gillespie

*James T. Gillespie

President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ James T. Gillespie *James T. Gillespie	President	February 20, 2013
/s/ James L. Roberts *James L. Roberts	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Thomas W. Lambeth *Thomas W. Lambeth	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner *Kenneth R. Cotner	Treasurer	February 20, 2013
/s/ Douglas R. Van Scoy *Douglas R. Van Scoy	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Drew T. Kagan *Drew T. Kagan	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Laura C. Bingham *Laura C. Bingham	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Alexander W. McAlister *Alexander W. McAlister	Trustee	February 20, 2013
/s/ Alan G. Priest *Alan G. Priest	Trustee	February 20, 2013

By:	/s/ Thomas R. Hiller
	Thomas R. Hiller

*By Thomas R. Hiller, solely in his capacity as Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to powers of attorney filed herewith.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

James L. Roberts, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ James L. Roberts
	James L. Roberts

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Thomas Willis Lambeth, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ Thomas Willis Lambeth
	Thomas Willis Lambeth

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Kenneth R. Cotner, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller and Margaret S. Moore, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: December 1, 2012	/s/ Kenneth R. Cotner
	Kenneth R. Cotner

POWER OF ATTORNEY

James T. Gillespie, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ James T. Gillespie
	James T. Gillespie

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Douglas R. Van Scoy, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ Douglas R. Van Scoy
	Douglas R. Van Scoy

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Drew T. Kagan, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ Drew T. Kagan
	Drew T. Kagan

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Laura C. Bingham, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, her true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ Laura C. Bingham
	Laura C. Bingham

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Alexander W. McAlister, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: May 1, 2012	/s/ Alexander W. McAlister
	Alexander W. McAlister

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Alan G. Priest, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute and appoint Thomas R. Hiller, Margaret S. Moore, and Alexandra Oprescu, each individually, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, with power of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, each individually, may deem necessary or advisable or which may be required to enable Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital Variable Insurance Funds (the “Trust”), to comply with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Acts”), and any rules, regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with the filing and effectiveness of any and all amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to said Acts, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a trustee and/or officer of the Trust any and all such amendments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Acts, and any other instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Dated: July 1, 2012	/s/ Alan G. Priest
	Alan G. Priest

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxomony Extension Presentation Linkbase