KU vs. K-State

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

 KU K-State
Location Lawrence, KS Manhattan, KS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 28,406 19,745
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #457
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu k-state.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU K-State
Tuition (In State) $10,596 $9,964
Tuition (Out of State) $28,308 $26,838
Room & Board $10,818 $12,020
Avg Net Price $18,322 $18,745
Avg Grant Aid $10,644 $9,391
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 90%

Admission

 KU K-State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,226 13,437
Admitted 16,958 10,663
Acceptance Rate 88.2% 79.4%
Enrolled % 31% 29.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.77
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 20/27
SAT Range 1050/1290 1040/1260
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

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 KU K-State
% Men 11% 9%
% Women 16% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 78%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 KU K-State
% In-State 55% 72%
% Out-of-State 43% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than K-State based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 19,745 students)

KU vs. K-State Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Kansas is 6.3% more expensive to attend than K-State for in-state tuition ($10,596.00 vs. $9,964.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.5% higher at KU than Kansas State University ($28,308.00 vs. $26,838.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than K-State ($18,322 vs. $18,745)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 11.1% lower than costs at Kansas State University ($10,818 vs. $12,020)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kansas State University than University of Kansas (90% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 13.3% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($10,644 vs. $9,391)

KU vs. K-State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • 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 (88.2%) than K-State (79.4%)

KU vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU 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 KU.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Kansas State University (61% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $4,900 more per year than K-State graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $49,700)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than K-State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,500)
  • KU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans 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/