K-State vs. Southwestern College

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

K-State Southwestern College
Location Manhattan, KS Winfield, KS
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 19,745 1,139
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #457 #517
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website k-state.edu sckans.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

K-State Southwestern College
Tuition (In State) $9,964 $38,330
Tuition (Out of State) $26,838 $38,330
Room & Board $12,020 $11,356
Avg Net Price $18,745 $27,337
Avg Grant Aid $9,391 $26,433
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

K-State Southwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,437 1,333
Admitted 10,663 866
Acceptance Rate 79.4% 65%
Enrolled % 29.9% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27 17/22
SAT Range 1040/1260 900/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2026

Academics

K-State Southwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (4%)

Outcomes

K-State Southwestern College
Graduation Rate 56% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,700 $53,100
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $232 $266

Diversity

K-State Southwestern College
% Men 9% 6%
% Women 14% 3%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 54%
% Black 4% 12%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 15%

Students

K-State Southwestern College
% In-State 72% 28%
% Out-of-State 27% 70%

Campus

K-State Southwestern 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 Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (19,745 students vs. 1,139 students)

K-State vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

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

  • Southwestern College is 284.7% more expensive to attend than K-State for in-state tuition ($38,330.00 vs. $9,964.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.8% higher at Southwestern College than Kansas State University ($38,330.00 vs. $26,838.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kansas State University than Southwestern College ($18,745 vs. $27,337)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 5.8% lower than costs at Kansas State University ($11,356 vs. $12,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern College than Kansas State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 181.5% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($26,433 vs. $9,391)

K-State vs. Southwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Southwestern College (3.33)
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Southwestern College (65%)

K-State vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, K-State or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College and K-State.

  • The graduation rate at Southwestern College is higher than Kansas State University (57% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern College earn on average $3,400 more per year than K-State graduates after ten years. ($53,100 vs. $49,700)
  • Kansas State University students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwestern College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,750)
  • K-State graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Southwestern College graduates. ($232 vs. $266)
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 57%)

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