KU vs. Kentucky

Deciding between University of Kansas and University of Kentucky? 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
University of Kentucky

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • KU Small City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • KU 29,792
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KU #317
  • Kentucky #437
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KU -
  • Kentucky -
  • Status
  • KU Non-profit
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KU
  • Kentucky

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KU $12,102
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KU $30,432
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & Board
  • KU $11,358
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average Net Price
  • KU $19,205
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KU $11,541
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KU 91%
  • Kentucky 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KU 22,363
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • KU 20,905
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KU 93.5%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Enrolled
  • KU 25.5%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KU 1190
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • KU 24
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • KU 3.66
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KU A-
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • KU Challenging
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • KU
  • Kentucky
  • ACT Range
  • KU 20/28
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KU Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KU 18:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KU 61%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KU $54,600
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KU 66%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KU $20,500
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KU $211
  • Kentucky $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KU 46%
  • Kentucky 40%
  • % Women
  • KU 54%
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KU Medium
  • Kentucky Low
  • HBCU
  • KU No
  • Kentucky No
  • % White
  • KU 72%
  • Kentucky 76%
  • % Asian
  • KU 4%
  • Kentucky 2%
  • % Black
  • KU 4%
  • Kentucky 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • KU 7%
  • Kentucky 4%
  • % Native American
  • KU 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KU 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KU 5%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % International
  • KU 6%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KU 1%
  • Kentucky 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KU 53%
  • Kentucky 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KU 45%
  • Kentucky 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kentucky is larger than KU based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 29,792 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

KU vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Kentucky? 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 Kentucky ($19,205 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 29.1% lower than at University of Kentucky ($11,358 vs. $16,016).
  • University of Kentucky is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $1,400 more per year; $13,502.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Kentucky than at University of Kansas (about $3,708 more per year; $34,140.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at University of Kansas (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 11.8% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($12,898 vs. $11,541).

KU vs. Kentucky Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kansas (1190) is 10 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming KU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Kentucky (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 1070/1300; University of Kentucky 1070/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kansas 20/28; University of Kentucky 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KU - Test optional; Kentucky - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027; Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Kentucky (92.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.5% at KU vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

KU vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KU and Kentucky? 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 University of Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Kentucky graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kentucky graduates ($211 vs. $235).
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 62%)

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.