KU vs. WSU

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

 KU WSU
Location Lawrence, KS Wichita, KS
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 26,708 16,216
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #700
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu wichita.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU WSU
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $6,848
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $16,208
Room & Board $10,136 $12,610
Avg Net Price $18,950 $13,553
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $7,110
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 79%

Admission

 KU WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 8,899
Admitted 14,234 8,441
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 94.9%
Enrolled % 31.3% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 19/26
SAT Range 1090/1340 953/1260
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 WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)

Outcomes

 KU WSU
Graduation Rate 61% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $43,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $211

Diversity

 KU WSU
% Men 45% 45%
% Women 55% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 63%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 KU WSU
% In-State 58% 76%
% Out-of-State 39% 20%

Campus

 KU WSU
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 WSU based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 16,216 students)

KU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or WSU?

  • University of Kansas is 47.4% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $6,848.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.3% higher at KU than Wichita State University ($26,960.00 vs. $16,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wichita State University than KU ($13,553 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 24.4% lower than costs at Wichita State University ($10,136 vs. $12,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than Wichita State University (87% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 56.7% larger than aid received Wichita State University ($11,140 vs. $7,110)

KU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 56 points higher than at WSU (1089)
  • Incoming KU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at WSU (3.48)
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than KU (87.8%)

KU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Wichita State University (61% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $10,800 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $43,800)
  • Wichita State University and KU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($20,500 vs. $20,500)
  • Wichita State University and KU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($211 vs. $211)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

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