KU vs. UC

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

 KU UC
Location Lawrence, KS Cincinnati, OH
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 26,708 41,155
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #413
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu uc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU UC
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $11,498
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $26,862
Room & Board $10,136 $12,852
Avg Net Price $18,950 $20,149
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $8,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 64%

Admission

 KU UC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 29,025
Admitted 14,234 25,024
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 86.2%
Enrolled % 31.3% 25.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 24/29
SAT Range 1090/1340 1160/1360
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

 KU UC
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%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

 KU UC
Graduation Rate 61% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $237

Diversity

 KU UC
% Men 45% 46%
% Women 55% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 75%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

 KU UC
% In-State 58% 78%
% Out-of-State 39% 17%

Campus

 KU UC
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 Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (41,155 students vs. 26,708 students)

KU vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or UC?

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 13.9% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($11,498.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at KU than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($26,960.00 vs. $26,862.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than UC ($18,950 vs. $20,149)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 26.8% lower than costs at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($10,136 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (87% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 27.6% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($11,140 vs. $8,733)

KU vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 20 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming UC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than UC (86.2%)

KU vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or UC? 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 UC and KU.

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (61% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $9,000 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $45,600)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
  • KU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC 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/