K-State vs. VCU

Deciding between Kansas State University and Virginia Commonwealth University? 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
Virginia Commonwealth University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • VCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • VCU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • VCU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • VCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • VCU 6%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

K-State vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or VCU? 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 VCU ($20,527 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 29.7% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($12,830 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 51% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $5,724 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.4% higher at VCU than at Kansas State University (about $11,541 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at Virginia Commonwealth University (92% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 53% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($14,186 vs. $9,270).

K-State vs. VCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 20 points higher than at VCU (1140).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at K-State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at VCU (3.75).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 21.6% at VCU.

K-State vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State and VCU? 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 Virginia Commonwealth University's (53%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kansas State University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than VCU graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, K-State graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCU graduates ($232 vs. $240).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)

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.