McKendree University vs. KU

Should I go to McKendree University or University of Kansas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McKendree University or KU 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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McKendree University vs. University of Kansas comparison
McKendree University University of Kansas College 3 College 4
McKendree University University of Kansas
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Overview

McKendree University KU
Location Lebanon, IL Lawrence, KS
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,960 26,708
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #607 #252
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mckendree.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McKendree University KU
Tuition (In State) $32,020 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $32,020 $26,960
Room & Board $11,590 $10,136
Avg Net Price $22,431 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $24,145 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

McKendree University KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,332 16,204
Admitted 1,594 14,234
Acceptance Rate 68.4% 87.8%
Enrolled % 26.5% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/28 21/28
SAT Range 871/1277 1090/1340
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

McKendree University KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (37%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

McKendree University KU
Graduation Rate 54% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $240 $211

Diversity

McKendree University KU
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 72%
% Black 14% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

McKendree University KU
% In-State 48% 58%
% Out-of-State 27% 39%

Campus

McKendree University KU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than McKendree University based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 1,960 students)

McKendree University vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McKendree University or KU?

  • McKendree University is 217.3% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($32,020.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.8% higher at McKendree University than University of Kansas ($32,020.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than McKendree University ($18,950 vs. $22,431)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 14.3% lower than costs at McKendree University ($10,136 vs. $11,590)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McKendree University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McKendree University students is 116.7% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($24,145 vs. $11,140)

McKendree University vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McKendree University or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or McKendree University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 139 points higher than at McKendree University (1006)
  • Incoming KU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at McKendree University (22)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at McKendree University (3.38)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than McKendree University (68.4%)

McKendree University vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McKendree University or KU? 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 KU and McKendree University.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than McKendree University (61% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $6,300 more per year than McKendree University graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $48,300)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than McKendree University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,250)
  • KU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than McKendree University graduates. ($211 vs. $240)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McKendree University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 58%)

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