K-State vs. McPherson College

Should I go to Kansas State University or McPherson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if K-State or McPherson College 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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Kansas State University vs. McPherson College comparison
Kansas State University McPherson College College 3 College 4
Kansas State University
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Overview

K-State McPherson College
Location Manhattan, KS McPherson, KS
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 19,745 788
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #457
Religious Affiliation - Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website k-state.edu mcpherson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

K-State McPherson College
Tuition (In State) $9,964 $34,072
Tuition (Out of State) $26,838 $34,072
Room & Board $12,020 $10,322
Avg Net Price $18,745 $25,490
Avg Grant Aid $9,391 $22,929
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

K-State McPherson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,437 1,209
Admitted 10,663 1,013
Acceptance Rate 79.4% 83.8%
Enrolled % 29.9% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 17/24
SAT Range 1040/1260 936/1126
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 1, 2026

Academics

K-State McPherson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

K-State McPherson College
Graduation Rate 56% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,700 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $268

Diversity

K-State McPherson College
% Men 9% 0%
% Women 14% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 70%
% Black 4% 10%
% Hispanic 7% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

K-State McPherson College
% In-State 72% 27%
% Out-of-State 27% 69%

Campus

K-State McPherson College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Kansas State University is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (19,745 students vs. 788 students)

K-State vs. McPherson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or McPherson College?

  • McPherson College is 242% more expensive to attend than K-State for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $9,964.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27% higher at McPherson College than Kansas State University ($34,072.00 vs. $26,838.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kansas State University than McPherson College ($18,745 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 16.5% lower than costs at Kansas State University ($10,322 vs. $12,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College than Kansas State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 144.2% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($22,929 vs. $9,391)

K-State vs. McPherson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, K-State or McPherson College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McPherson College or K-State .

  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than K-State (79.4%)

K-State vs. McPherson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, K-State or McPherson College? 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 McPherson College and K-State.

  • The graduation rate at K-State is higher than McPherson College (56% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn on average $5,500 more per year than McPherson College graduates after ten years. ($49,700 vs. $44,200)
  • Kansas State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,000)
  • K-State graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($232 vs. $268)
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McPherson College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 67%)

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