KU vs. ASU

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

 KU ASU
Location Lawrence, KS Boone, NC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 28,406 21,253
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #597
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu appstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU ASU
Tuition (In State) $10,596 $4,242
Tuition (Out of State) $28,308 $21,238
Room & Board $10,818 $12,258
Avg Net Price $18,322 $14,712
Avg Grant Aid $10,644 $7,677
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 47%

Admission

 KU ASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,226 24,001
Admitted 16,958 21,275
Acceptance Rate 88.2% 88.6%
Enrolled % 31% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.96
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1290 1100/1280
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 KU ASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

 KU ASU
Graduation Rate 61% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $211

Diversity

 KU ASU
% Men 11% 3%
% Women 16% 6%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 85%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 KU ASU
% In-State 55% 87%
% Out-of-State 43% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than ASU based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 21,253 students)

KU vs. ASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or ASU?

  • University of Kansas is 149.8% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($10,596.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.3% higher at KU than Appalachian State University ($28,308.00 vs. $21,238.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than KU ($14,712 vs. $18,322)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 13.3% lower than costs at Appalachian State University ($10,818 vs. $12,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than Appalachian State University (89% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 38.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($10,644 vs. $7,677)

KU vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 12 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at KU (3.66)
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than KU (88.2%)

KU vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or ASU? 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 ASU and KU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is higher than University of Kansas (65% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $13,000 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University and KU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($20,500 vs. $20,500)
  • Appalachian State University and KU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($211 vs. $211)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

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