KU vs. Southwestern College

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

 KU Southwestern College
Location Lawrence, KS Winfield, KS
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 28,406 1,139
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #517
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu sckans.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU Southwestern College
Tuition (In State) $10,596 $38,330
Tuition (Out of State) $28,308 $38,330
Room & Board $10,818 $11,356
Avg Net Price $18,322 $27,337
Avg Grant Aid $10,644 $26,433
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

 KU Southwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,226 1,333
Admitted 16,958 866
Acceptance Rate 88.2% 65%
Enrolled % 31% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 17/22
SAT Range 1050/1290 900/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026 Aug 22, 2026

Academics

 KU Southwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (4%)

Outcomes

 KU Southwestern College
Graduation Rate 61% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $53,100
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $211 $266

Diversity

 KU Southwestern College
% Men 11% 6%
% Women 16% 3%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 54%
% Black 4% 12%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 15%

Students

 KU Southwestern College
% In-State 55% 28%
% Out-of-State 43% 70%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 1,139 students)

KU vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Southwestern College?

  • Southwestern College is 261.7% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($38,330.00 vs. $10,596.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.4% higher at Southwestern College than University of Kansas ($38,330.00 vs. $28,308.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Southwestern College ($18,322 vs. $27,337)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 5% lower than costs at Southwestern College ($10,818 vs. $11,356)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern College than University of Kansas (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 148.3% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($26,433 vs. $10,644)

KU vs. Southwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 146 points higher than at Southwestern College (999)
  • Incoming KU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Southwestern College (22)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Southwestern College (3.33)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Southwestern College (65%)

KU vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or Southwestern College? 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 Southwestern College and KU.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Southwestern College (61% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $1,500 more per year than Southwestern College graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $53,100)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwestern College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,750)
  • KU graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Southwestern College graduates. ($211 vs. $266)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)

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