Should I go to University of Kansas or University of South Dakota? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU or USD 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.
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
K-State South Dakota State University ESU University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Arkansas Iowa University of Missouri-Kansas City UALR Johnson County Community College OU BakerUniversity of Kansas | University of South Dakota | College 3 | College 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
KU | USD | ||
Location | Lawrence, KS | Vermillion, SD | ||
Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
Enrollment | 26,708 | 9,856 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #252 | #597 | ||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | ku.edu | usd.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
KU | USD | ||
Tuition (In State) | $10,092 | $7,773 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Tuition (Out of State) | $26,960 | $11,283 | ||
Room & Board | $10,136 | $8,224 | ||
Avg Net Price | $18,950 | $18,378 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $11,140 | $6,308 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 79% |
Admission |
KU | USD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 16,204 | 4,480 | ||
Admitted | 14,234 | 4,456 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 99.5% | ||
Enrolled % | 31.3% | 29.8% | ||
Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.43 | ||
Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
Applicant Competition | ||||
ACT Range | 21/28 | 19/25 | ||
SAT Range | 1090/1340 | 1020/1300 | ||
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 |
Academics |
KU | USD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
KU | USD | ||
Graduation Rate | 61% | 47% | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,600 | $48,200 | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 70% | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $25,000 | ||
Median Loan Payment | $211 | $258 |
Diversity |
KU | USD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
% Men | 45% | 37% | ||
% Women | 55% | 63% | ||
Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 72% | 85% | ||
% Black | 4% | 3% | ||
% Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
% Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
% International | 6% | 2% | ||
% Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
KU | USD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
% In-State | 58% | 54% | ||
% Out-of-State | 39% | 43% | ||
Campus |
KU | USD | ||
Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, KU or USD?
Which college is harder to get into, KU or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or KU .
Which is better, KU or USD? 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 USD and KU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/