CSU vs. KU

Should I go to Chicago State University or University of Kansas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or KU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Chicago State University vs. University of Kansas comparison
Chicago State University University of Kansas College 3 College 4
Chicago State University University of Kansas
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Overview

CSU KU
Location Chicago, IL Lawrence, KS
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,317 26,708
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #870 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csu.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU KU
Tuition (In State) $7,656 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $7,656 $26,960
Room & Board $13,800 $10,136
Avg Net Price $6,446 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $15,891 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 87%

Admission

CSU KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,404 16,204
Admitted 3,592 14,234
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 87.8%
Enrolled % 4.8% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.66
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19 21/28
SAT Range 750/963 1090/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

CSU KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

CSU KU
Graduation Rate 21% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,300 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $323 $211

Diversity

CSU KU
% Men 33% 45%
% Women 67% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 3% 72%
% Black 75% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 12% 1%

Students

CSU KU
% In-State 77% 58%
% Out-of-State 20% 39%

Campus

CSU KU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 2,317 students)

CSU vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or KU?

  • University of Kansas is 31.8% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 252.1% higher at KU than Chicago State University ($26,960.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than KU ($6,446 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 36.1% lower than costs at Chicago State University ($10,136 vs. $13,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Chicago State University than University of Kansas (93% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 42.6% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($15,891 vs. $11,140)

CSU vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or CSU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 270 points higher than at CSU (875)
  • Incoming KU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at CSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at CSU (3.18)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than CSU (48.5%)

CSU vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU or KU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between KU and CSU.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Chicago State University (61% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $16,300 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $38,300)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $10,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $31,250)
  • KU graduates are paying $112 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($211 vs. $323)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/