NAU vs. K-State

Should I go to Northern Arizona University or Kansas State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NAU or K-State 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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Northern Arizona University vs. Kansas State University comparison
Northern Arizona University Kansas State University College 3 College 4
Northern Arizona University Kansas State University
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Overview

NAU K-State
Location Flagstaff, AZ Manhattan, KS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 28,086 19,722
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nau.edu k-state.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NAU K-State
Tuition (In State) $11,024 $9,489
Tuition (Out of State) $26,286 $25,560
Room & Board $11,728 $10,100
Avg Net Price $17,115 $18,855
Avg Grant Aid $11,865 $8,537
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

NAU K-State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 44,855 9,706
Admitted 35,881 9,234
Acceptance Rate 80% 95.1%
Enrolled % 15.5% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
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 1, 2025

Academics

NAU K-State
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

NAU K-State
Graduation Rate 52% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,900 $49,700
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $206 $232

Diversity

NAU K-State
% Men 37% 47%
% Women 63% 53%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 78%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 22% 7%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 4% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

NAU K-State
% In-State 73% 75%
% Out-of-State 26% 24%

Campus

NAU K-State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Northern Arizona University is larger than than K-State based on total student enrollment (28,086 students vs. 19,722 students)

NAU vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NAU or K-State?

  • Northern Arizona University is 16.2% more expensive to attend than K-State for in-state tuition ($11,024.00 vs. $9,489.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at NAU than Kansas State University ($26,286.00 vs. $25,560.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Arizona University than K-State ($17,115 vs. $18,855)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 16.1% lower than costs at Northern Arizona University ($10,100 vs. $11,728)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Arizona University than Kansas State University (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Arizona University students is 39% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($11,865 vs. $8,537)

NAU vs. K-State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NAU or K-State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between K-State or NAU .

  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at NAU (3.7)
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than NAU (80%)

NAU vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NAU or K-State? 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 K-State and NAU.

  • The graduation rate at K-State is higher than Northern Arizona University (56% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn on average $5,800 more per year than NAU graduates after ten years. ($49,700 vs. $43,900)
  • Northern Arizona University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than K-State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $22,500)
  • NAU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than K-State graduates. ($206 vs. $232)
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NAU 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/