UNI vs. K-State

Deciding between University of Northern Iowa and Kansas State University? 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 Northern Iowa
Kansas State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNI Cedar Falls, IA
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • UNI Small City
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UNI 9,278
  • K-State 20,295
  • Type
  • UNI Public 4 Year
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNI #479
  • K-State #510
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNI -
  • K-State -
  • Status
  • UNI Non-profit
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNI
  • K-State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNI $9,936
  • K-State $11,221
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNI $21,712
  • K-State $28,568
  • Room & Board
  • UNI $9,986
  • K-State $12,830
  • Average Net Price
  • UNI $16,437
  • K-State $20,527
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNI $5,865
  • K-State $9,270
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNI 83%
  • K-State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNI 5,360
  • K-State 15,509
  • Admitted
  • UNI 4,971
  • K-State 12,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNI 92.7%
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UNI 31.1%
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNI 1150
  • K-State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNI 22
  • K-State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNI 3.61
  • K-State 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNI A-
  • K-State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNI Average
  • K-State Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNI
  • K-State
  • ACT Range
  • UNI 19/26
  • K-State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • UNI 1020/1280
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNI Test optional
  • K-State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNI
  • K-State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNI 18:1
  • K-State 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNI
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNI 67%
  • K-State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNI $47,700
  • K-State $49,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNI 72%
  • K-State 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNI $20,625
  • K-State $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNI $213
  • K-State $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNI 36%
  • K-State 46%
  • % Women
  • UNI 64%
  • K-State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNI Very Low
  • K-State Low
  • HBCU
  • UNI No
  • K-State No
  • % White
  • UNI 83%
  • K-State 78%
  • % Asian
  • UNI 1%
  • K-State 1%
  • % Black
  • UNI 3%
  • K-State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNI 3%
  • K-State 7%
  • % Native American
  • UNI 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNI 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNI 2%
  • K-State 3%
  • % International
  • UNI 4%
  • K-State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNI 3%
  • K-State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNI 89%
  • K-State 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNI 10%
  • K-State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNI Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNI No
  • K-State No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNI Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNI No
  • K-State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNI Yes
  • K-State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA with Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kansas State University is larger than UNI based on total student enrollment (20,295 students vs. 9,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA (Small City setting); Kansas State University is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Iowa 18:1; Kansas State University 19:1.

UNI vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNI or K-State? 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 Northern Iowa than K-State ($16,437 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 22.2% lower than at Kansas State University ($9,986 vs. $12,830).
  • Kansas State University is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNI (about $1,285 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $9,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.6% higher at K-State than at University of Northern Iowa (about $6,856 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $21,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at University of Northern Iowa (92% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas State University students is 58.1% larger than aid received by University of Northern Iowa students ($9,270 vs. $5,865).

UNI vs. K-State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNI or K-State? 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 K-State and UNI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 10 points higher than at UNI (1150).
  • Incoming K-State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at UNI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 1020/1280; Kansas State University 1060/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 19/26; Kansas State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNI - Test optional; K-State - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at UNI (3.61).
  • UNI has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at UNI vs. 27.5% at K-State.

UNI vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNI and K-State? 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 Northern Iowa's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Kansas State University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than UNI graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Iowa graduates have a $1,875 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($20,625 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNI graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($213 vs. $232).
  • More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former K-State students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 70%)

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.