KU vs. K-State

Deciding between University of Kansas and Kansas 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.

University of Kansas
Kansas State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • KU Small City
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KU 29,792
  • K-State 20,295
  • Type
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KU #317
  • K-State #510
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KU -
  • K-State -
  • Status
  • KU Non-profit
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KU
  • K-State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KU $12,102
  • K-State $11,221
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KU $30,432
  • K-State $28,568
  • Room & Board
  • KU $11,358
  • K-State $12,830
  • Average Net Price
  • KU $19,205
  • K-State $20,527
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KU $11,541
  • K-State $9,270
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KU 91%
  • K-State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KU 22,363
  • K-State 15,509
  • Admitted
  • KU 20,905
  • K-State 12,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KU 93.5%
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • KU 25.5%
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KU 1190
  • K-State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • KU 24
  • K-State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • KU 3.66
  • K-State 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KU A-
  • K-State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KU Challenging
  • K-State Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • KU
  • K-State
  • ACT Range
  • KU 20/28
  • K-State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • KU 1070/1300
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KU Test optional
  • K-State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • K-State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KU 18:1
  • K-State 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KU 61%
  • K-State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KU $54,600
  • K-State $49,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KU 66%
  • K-State 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KU $20,500
  • K-State $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KU $211
  • K-State $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KU 46%
  • K-State 46%
  • % Women
  • KU 54%
  • K-State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KU Medium
  • K-State Low
  • HBCU
  • KU No
  • K-State No
  • % White
  • KU 72%
  • K-State 78%
  • % Asian
  • KU 4%
  • K-State 1%
  • % Black
  • KU 4%
  • K-State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • KU 7%
  • K-State 7%
  • % Native American
  • KU 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KU 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KU 5%
  • K-State 3%
  • % International
  • KU 6%
  • K-State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KU 1%
  • K-State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KU 53%
  • K-State 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KU 45%
  • K-State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kansas is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting); Kansas State University is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kansas 18:1; Kansas State University 19:1.

KU vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or K-State? 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 University of Kansas than K-State ($19,205 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 11.5% lower than at Kansas State University ($11,358 vs. $12,830).
  • University of Kansas is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $881 more per year; $12,102.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at KU than at Kansas State University (about $1,864 more per year; $30,432.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at University of Kansas (92% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 24.5% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($11,541 vs. $9,270).

KU vs. K-State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 30 points higher than at K-State (1160).
  • Incoming KU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at K-State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 1070/1300; Kansas State University 1060/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 20/28; Kansas State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KU - Test optional; K-State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at KU (3.66).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.5% at KU vs. 27.5% at K-State.

KU vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KU and K-State? 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).

  • University of Kansas's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Kansas State University's (56%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than K-State graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $49,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, KU 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 KU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 66%)

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.