KU vs. OU

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

 KU OU
Location Lawrence, KS Norman, OK
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 26,708 28,308
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #189
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU OU
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $4,920
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $21,488
Room & Board $10,136 $15,780
Avg Net Price $18,950 $22,601
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $10,561
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 98%

Admission

 KU OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 21,548
Admitted 14,234 15,712
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 72.9%
Enrolled % 31.3% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1090/1340 1130/1330
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 KU OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 KU OU
Graduation Rate 61% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $59,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $206

Diversity

 KU OU
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 62%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 9%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 KU OU
% In-State 58% 53%
% Out-of-State 39% 45%

Campus

 KU OU
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 Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (28,308 students vs. 26,708 students)

KU vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or OU?

  • University of Kansas is 105.1% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $4,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.5% higher at KU than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($26,960.00 vs. $21,488.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than OU ($18,950 vs. $22,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 55.7% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($10,136 vs. $15,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than University of Kansas (98% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 5.5% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,140 vs. $10,561)

KU vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 59 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming OU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.66) as students at OU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than OU (72.9%)

KU vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than University of Kansas (67% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn on average $4,700 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($59,300 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $20,500)
  • OU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($206 vs. $211)
  • More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 66%)

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