K-State vs. WSU

Deciding between Kansas State University and Wichita State 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
Wichita State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • WSU Wichita, KS
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • WSU 16,689
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • WSU #746
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • WSU $9,684
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • WSU $19,869
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • WSU $12,420
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • WSU $14,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • WSU $8,125
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • WSU 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • WSU 9,916
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • WSU 9,316
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • WSU 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • WSU 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • WSU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • WSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • WSU 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • WSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • WSU 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • WSU 905/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • WSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • WSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • WSU
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • WSU 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • WSU $43,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • WSU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • WSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • WSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • WSU 42%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • WSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • WSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • WSU 63%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • WSU 7%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • WSU 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • WSU 11%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • WSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • WSU 4%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • WSU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • WSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • WSU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • WSU 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kansas State University is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (20,295 students vs. 16,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

K-State vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or WSU? 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 Wichita State University than K-State ($14,228 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wichita State University are 3.2% lower than at Kansas State University ($12,420 vs. $12,830).
  • Kansas State University is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $1,537 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $9,684.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.8% higher at K-State than at Wichita State University (about $8,699 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $19,869.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at Wichita State University (92% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas State University students is 14.1% larger than aid received by Wichita State University students ($9,270 vs. $8,125).

K-State vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 90 points higher than at WSU (1070).
  • Incoming K-State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; Wichita State University 905/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; Wichita State University 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at WSU (3.48).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 20.1% at WSU.

K-State vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State and WSU? 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 Wichita State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $43,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wichita State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($211 vs. $232).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 55%)

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.