K-State vs. Southwestern College

Deciding between Kansas State University and Southwestern College? 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.

Kansas State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Southwestern College Winfield, KS
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Southwestern College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • Southwestern College 1,041
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • Southwestern College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • Southwestern College #548
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • Southwestern College United Methodist
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Southwestern College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • Southwestern College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • Southwestern College $39,822
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • Southwestern College $39,822
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • Southwestern College $11,465
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • Southwestern College $29,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • Southwestern College $28,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • Southwestern College 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • Southwestern College 1,452
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • Southwestern College 1,097
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Southwestern College 75.6%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Southwestern College 19.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • Southwestern College 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • Southwestern College 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • Southwestern College 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • Southwestern College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • Southwestern College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • Southwestern College
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • Southwestern College 17/22
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Southwestern College 900/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • Southwestern College Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • Southwestern College Aug 22, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • Southwestern College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Southwestern College
    • Business (44%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (4%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • Southwestern College 66%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • Southwestern College 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • Southwestern College Medium
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • Southwestern College No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • Southwestern College 54%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • Southwestern College 1%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • Southwestern College 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • Southwestern College 8%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • Southwestern College 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • Southwestern College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • Southwestern College 3%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • Southwestern College 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • Southwestern College 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • Southwestern College 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • Southwestern College 65%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • K-State Yes
  • Southwestern College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • K-State No
  • Southwestern College No
  • Meal Plan
  • K-State Yes
  • Southwestern College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • K-State Yes
  • Southwestern College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • K-State Yes
  • Southwestern College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with Southwestern College in Winfield, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kansas State University is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (20,295 students vs. 1,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); Southwestern College is in Winfield, KS (Distant Town setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; Southwestern College 10:1.

K-State vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or Southwestern College? 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 Kansas State University than Southwestern College ($20,527 vs. $29,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 10.6% lower than at Kansas State University ($11,465 vs. $12,830).
  • Southwestern College is 254.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $28,601 more per year; $39,822.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.4% higher at Southwestern College than at Kansas State University (about $11,254 more per year; $39,822.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Kansas State University (98% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 212.1% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($28,936 vs. $9,270).

K-State vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, K-State or Southwestern College? 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 Southwestern College and K-State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 100 points higher than at Southwestern College (1060).
  • Incoming K-State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at Southwestern College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; Southwestern College 900/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; Southwestern College 17/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; Southwestern College - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwestern College Aug 22, 2027.
  • 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 (81.7%) than Southwestern College (75.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 19.1% at Southwestern College.

K-State vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State and Southwestern College? 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).

  • Southwestern College's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Kansas State University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than K-State graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,100 vs. $49,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kansas State University graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Southwestern College graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, K-State graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.