Augustana vs. KU

Deciding between Augustana College and University of Kansas? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Augustana College
University of Kansas

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Augustana Rock Island, IL
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Setting
  • Augustana Small City
  • KU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Augustana 2,570
  • KU 29,792
  • Type
  • Augustana Private 4 Year
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Augustana #311
  • KU #317
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • KU -
  • Status
  • Augustana Non-profit
  • KU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Augustana
  • KU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • KU $12,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • KU $30,432
  • Room & Board
  • Augustana $12,502
  • KU $11,358
  • Average Net Price
  • Augustana $24,714
  • KU $19,205
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Augustana $39,242
  • KU $11,541
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Augustana 100%
  • KU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Augustana 7,857
  • KU 22,363
  • Admitted
  • Augustana 4,925
  • KU 20,905
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Augustana 62.7%
  • KU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Augustana 13.5%
  • KU 25.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Augustana 1150
  • KU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Augustana 25
  • KU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Augustana 3.3
  • KU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Augustana B+
  • KU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Augustana Challenging
  • KU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Augustana Low
  • KU
  • ACT Range
  • Augustana 21/29
  • KU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • Augustana 1030/1270
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Augustana Test optional
  • KU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Augustana Aug 1, 2027
  • KU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Augustana 12:1
  • KU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Augustana
    • Business (19%)
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Augustana 76%
  • KU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Augustana $55,100
  • KU $54,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Augustana 81%
  • KU 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Augustana $27,000
  • KU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Augustana $279
  • KU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Augustana 47%
  • KU 46%
  • % Women
  • Augustana 53%
  • KU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Augustana Low
  • KU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Augustana No
  • KU No
  • % White
  • Augustana 76%
  • KU 72%
  • % Asian
  • Augustana 2%
  • KU 4%
  • % Black
  • Augustana 4%
  • KU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Augustana 10%
  • KU 7%
  • % Native American
  • Augustana 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Augustana 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Augustana 4%
  • KU 5%
  • % International
  • Augustana 4%
  • KU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Augustana 1%
  • KU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Augustana 53%
  • KU 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Augustana 21%
  • KU 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Augustana Yes
  • KU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Augustana No
  • KU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Augustana Yes
  • KU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Augustana No
  • KU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Augustana No
  • KU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kansas is larger than Augustana based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 2,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Augustana College is located in Rock Island, IL (Small City setting); University of Kansas is in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting).
  • Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Augustana College 12:1; University of Kansas 18:1.

Augustana vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Augustana or KU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Augustana ($19,205 vs. $24,714).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 9.2% lower than at Augustana College ($11,358 vs. $12,502).
  • Augustana College is 326.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $39,496 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.6% higher at Augustana than at University of Kansas (about $21,166 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Augustana College than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Augustana College students is 240% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($39,242 vs. $11,541).

Augustana vs. KU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Augustana or KU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KU and Augustana.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 40 points higher than at Augustana (1150).
  • Incoming Augustana students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at KU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 1030/1270; University of Kansas 1070/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 21/29; University of Kansas 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Augustana - Test optional; KU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Augustana Aug 1, 2027; KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Augustana (3.3).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Augustana (62.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Augustana vs. 25.5% at KU.

Augustana vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Augustana and KU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Augustana College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than University of Kansas's (61%).
  • Graduates from Augustana College earn a median of about $500 more per year than KU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,100 vs. $54,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Augustana graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Augustana graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More Augustana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.