KU vs. UWM

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

 KU UWM
Location Lawrence, KS Milwaukee, WI
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 26,708 22,676
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #840
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu uwm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU UWM
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $8,091
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $19,956
Room & Board $10,136 $10,896
Avg Net Price $18,950 $16,551
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $5,963
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 78%

Admission

 KU UWM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 16,852
Admitted 14,234 14,546
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 86.3%
Enrolled % 31.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.16
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 19/24
SAT Range 1090/1340
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 Sep 1, 2024

Academics

 KU UWM
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 KU UWM
Graduation Rate 61% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $24,958
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

 KU UWM
% Men 45% 44%
% Women 55% 56%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 68%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 KU UWM
% In-State 58% 87%
% Out-of-State 39% 12%

Campus

 KU UWM
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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than UWM based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 22,676 students)

KU vs. UWM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or UWM?

  • University of Kansas is 24.7% more expensive to attend than UWM for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $8,091.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.1% higher at KU than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($26,960.00 vs. $19,956.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee than KU ($16,551 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 7.5% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($10,136 vs. $10,896)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (87% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 86.8% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($11,140 vs. $5,963)

KU vs. UWM Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 95 points higher than at UWM (1050)
  • Incoming KU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UWM (23)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at UWM (3.16)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than UWM (86.3%)

KU vs. UWM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (61% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $8,500 more per year than UWM graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $46,100)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $4,458 lower median federal student loan debt than UWM graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,958)
  • KU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than UWM graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UWM 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/