KU vs. Rockhurst

Deciding between University of Kansas and Rockhurst 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
Rockhurst University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Rockhurst Kansas City, MO
  • Setting
  • KU Small City
  • Rockhurst Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • KU 29,792
  • Rockhurst 3,577
  • Type
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • Rockhurst Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KU #317
  • Rockhurst #324
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KU -
  • Rockhurst Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • KU Non-profit
  • Rockhurst Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KU
  • Rockhurst

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KU $12,102
  • Rockhurst $44,966
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KU $30,432
  • Rockhurst $44,966
  • Room & Board
  • KU $11,358
  • Rockhurst $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • KU $19,205
  • Rockhurst $25,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KU $11,541
  • Rockhurst $34,562
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KU 91%
  • Rockhurst 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KU 22,363
  • Rockhurst 2,197
  • Admitted
  • KU 20,905
  • Rockhurst 1,529
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KU 93.5%
  • Rockhurst 69.6%
  • Enrolled
  • KU 25.5%
  • Rockhurst 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KU 1190
  • Rockhurst 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • KU 24
  • Rockhurst 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • KU 3.66
  • Rockhurst 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KU A-
  • Rockhurst A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KU Challenging
  • Rockhurst Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • KU
  • Rockhurst Low
  • ACT Range
  • KU 20/28
  • Rockhurst 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Rockhurst 1116/1246
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KU Test optional
  • Rockhurst Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • Rockhurst Jun 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KU 18:1
  • Rockhurst 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Rockhurst
    • Health Professions (31%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KU 61%
  • Rockhurst 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KU $54,600
  • Rockhurst $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KU 66%
  • Rockhurst 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KU $20,500
  • Rockhurst $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KU $211
  • Rockhurst $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KU 46%
  • Rockhurst 34%
  • % Women
  • KU 54%
  • Rockhurst 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KU Medium
  • Rockhurst Low
  • HBCU
  • KU No
  • Rockhurst No
  • % White
  • KU 72%
  • Rockhurst 72%
  • % Asian
  • KU 4%
  • Rockhurst 3%
  • % Black
  • KU 4%
  • Rockhurst 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • KU 7%
  • Rockhurst 7%
  • % Native American
  • KU 0%
  • Rockhurst 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KU 0%
  • Rockhurst 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KU 5%
  • Rockhurst 3%
  • % International
  • KU 6%
  • Rockhurst 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KU 1%
  • Rockhurst 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KU 53%
  • Rockhurst 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KU 45%
  • Rockhurst 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kansas is larger than Rockhurst based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 3,577 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

KU vs. Rockhurst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Rockhurst? 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 Rockhurst ($19,205 vs. $25,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 4.7% lower than at Rockhurst University ($11,358 vs. $11,920).
  • Rockhurst University is 271.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $32,864 more per year; $44,966.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47.8% higher at Rockhurst than at University of Kansas (about $14,534 more per year; $44,966.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rockhurst University than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockhurst University students is 199.5% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($34,562 vs. $11,541).

KU vs. Rockhurst Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 10 points higher than at Rockhurst (1180).
  • Incoming KU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Rockhurst (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 1070/1300; Rockhurst University 1116/1246.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 20/28; Rockhurst University 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KU - Test optional; Rockhurst - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027; Rockhurst Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Rockhurst (3.62).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Rockhurst (69.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.5% at KU vs. 19.2% at Rockhurst.

KU vs. Rockhurst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KU and Rockhurst? 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).

  • Rockhurst University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than University of Kansas's (61%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Rockhurst graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rockhurst University and KU graduates have the same median loan debt ($20,500 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rockhurst University and KU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($211 vs. $211).
  • More Rockhurst 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.