K-State vs. UNLV

Deciding between Kansas State University and University of Nevada Las Vegas? 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
University of Nevada Las Vegas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • UNLV Las Vegas, NV
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • UNLV Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • UNLV 32,911
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • UNLV Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • UNLV #610
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • UNLV -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • UNLV Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • UNLV

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • UNLV $9,748
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • UNLV $27,411
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • UNLV $12,628
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • UNLV $11,553
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • UNLV $7,717
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • UNLV 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • UNLV 12,730
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • UNLV 12,242
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • UNLV 96.2%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • UNLV 36.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • UNLV 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • UNLV 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • UNLV 3.4
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • UNLV B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • UNLV Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • UNLV
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • UNLV 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • UNLV 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • UNLV Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • UNLV Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • UNLV 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • UNLV
    • Business (32%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • UNLV 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • UNLV $47,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • UNLV 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • UNLV $19,018
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • UNLV $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • UNLV 43%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • UNLV 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • UNLV Very High
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • UNLV No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • UNLV 35%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • UNLV 15%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • UNLV 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • UNLV 26%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • UNLV 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • UNLV 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • UNLV 9%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • UNLV 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • UNLV 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • UNLV 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • UNLV 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with University of Nevada Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nevada Las Vegas is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (32,911 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); University of Nevada Las Vegas is in Las Vegas, NV (Midsize City setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nevada Las Vegas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; University of Nevada Las Vegas 19:1.

K-State vs. UNLV Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or UNLV? 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 Nevada Las Vegas than K-State ($11,553 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 1.6% lower than at Kansas State University ($12,628 vs. $12,830).
  • Kansas State University is 15.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNLV (about $1,473 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $9,748.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at K-State than at University of Nevada Las Vegas (about $1,157 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $27,411.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at University of Nevada Las Vegas (92% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas State University students is 20.1% larger than aid received by University of Nevada Las Vegas students ($9,270 vs. $7,717).

K-State vs. UNLV Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 30 points higher than at UNLV (1130).
  • Incoming K-State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at UNLV).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; University of Nevada Las Vegas 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; University of Nevada Las Vegas 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; UNLV - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNLV Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UNLV (3.4).
  • UNLV has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 36.2% at UNLV.

K-State vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Kansas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than University of Nevada Las Vegas's (40%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than UNLV graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $47,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nevada Las Vegas graduates have a $3,482 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($19,018 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNLV graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($196 vs. $232).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 52%)

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.