KU vs. Pitt State

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

 KU Pitt State
Location Lawrence, KS Pittsburg, KS
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 26,708 5,858
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu pittstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU Pitt State
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $6,012
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $17,696
Room & Board $10,136 $9,426
Avg Net Price $18,950 $16,725
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $3,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

 KU Pitt State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 2,642
Admitted 14,234 2,277
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 86.2%
Enrolled % 31.3% 37.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 1090/1340
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, 2025

Academics

 KU Pitt State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 KU Pitt State
Graduation Rate 61% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $206

Diversity

 KU Pitt State
% Men 45% 48%
% Women 55% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 79%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 KU Pitt State
% In-State 58% 64%
% Out-of-State 39% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Pitt State based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 5,858 students)

KU vs. Pitt State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Pitt State?

  • University of Kansas is 67.9% more expensive to attend than Pitt State for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $6,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.4% higher at KU than Pittsburg State University ($26,960.00 vs. $17,696.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pittsburg State University than KU ($16,725 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pittsburg State University are 7.5% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($9,426 vs. $10,136)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pittsburg State University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 262.9% larger than aid received Pittsburg State University ($11,140 vs. $3,070)

KU vs. Pitt State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Pitt State (3.4)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Pitt State (86.2%)

KU vs. Pitt State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or Pitt 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 Pitt State and KU.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Pittsburg State University (61% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $11,000 more per year than Pitt State graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $43,600)
  • Pittsburg State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $20,500)
  • Pitt State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($206 vs. $211)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt State students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)

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