KU vs. OU

Deciding between University of Kansas and Ottawa University Ottawa? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • OU Ottawa, KS
  • Setting
  • KU Small City
  • OU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KU 29,792
  • OU 999
  • Type
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • OU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KU #317
  • OU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KU -
  • OU American Baptist
  • Status
  • KU Non-profit
  • OU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KU
  • OU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KU $12,102
  • OU $35,880
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KU $30,432
  • OU $35,880
  • Room & Board
  • KU $11,358
  • OU $13,646
  • Average Net Price
  • KU $19,205
  • OU $28,185
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KU $11,541
  • OU $23,692
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KU 91%
  • OU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KU 22,363
  • OU 2,611
  • Admitted
  • KU 20,905
  • OU 2,166
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KU 93.5%
  • OU 83%
  • Enrolled
  • KU 25.5%
  • OU 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KU 1190
  • OU 880
  • Typical ACT score
  • KU 24
  • OU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • KU 3.66
  • OU 3.12
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KU A-
  • OU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • KU Challenging
  • OU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • KU
  • OU
  • ACT Range
  • KU 20/28
  • OU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • KU 1070/1300
  • OU 750/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KU Test optional
  • OU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • OU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KU 18:1
  • OU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • OU
    • Business (33%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KU 61%
  • OU 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KU $54,600
  • OU $46,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KU 66%
  • OU 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KU $20,500
  • OU $21,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KU $211
  • OU $226

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KU 46%
  • OU 62%
  • % Women
  • KU 54%
  • OU 38%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KU Medium
  • OU Medium
  • HBCU
  • KU No
  • OU No
  • % White
  • KU 72%
  • OU 61%
  • % Asian
  • KU 4%
  • OU 1%
  • % Black
  • KU 4%
  • OU 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • KU 7%
  • OU 3%
  • % Native American
  • KU 0%
  • OU 5%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KU 0%
  • OU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KU 5%
  • OU 3%
  • % International
  • KU 6%
  • OU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KU 1%
  • OU 14%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KU 53%
  • OU 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KU 45%
  • OU 71%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kansas is larger than OU based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 999 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting); Ottawa University Ottawa is in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kansas 18:1; Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1.

KU vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or OU? 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 OU ($19,205 vs. $28,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 16.8% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($11,358 vs. $13,646).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 196.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $23,778 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.9% higher at OU than at University of Kansas (about $5,448 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 105.3% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($23,692 vs. $11,541).

KU vs. OU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KU or OU? 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 OU and KU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 310 points higher than at OU (880).
  • Incoming KU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 19 at OU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 1070/1300; Ottawa University Ottawa 750/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 20/28; Ottawa University Ottawa 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KU - Test optional; OU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at OU (3.12).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than OU (83%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.5% at KU vs. 14.1% at OU.

KU vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KU and OU? 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 Ottawa University Ottawa's (47%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than OU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $1,375 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,875).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($211 vs. $226).
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)

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.