Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
Located in Lawrence, Kansas, 40 miles west of Kansas City, the University of Kansas (KU) occupies a 1,000-acre campus known for its limestone buildings and hilltop setting overlooking the Kansas River valley. Founded in 1865, KU serves as the state's flagship public research institution, maintaining selective admission standards for its undergraduate programs. The university is recognized for its programs in special education, public administration, and journalism, along with a distinguished medical school based at a separate campus in Kansas City. Students primarily reside in on-campus housing during their first year, with many upperclassmen living in the surrounding Lawrence community. As a member of the Big 12 Conference, KU's basketball program has established itself as one of the most successful in NCAA Division I history, playing home games in Allen Fieldhouse.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
KU is rated within the top 33% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for University of Kansas within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#252 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#64 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Colleges in Kansas
#1 in Best Public Colleges in Kansas
#195 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Value Colleges in Kansas
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1090/1340 |
| ACT | 21/28 |
| GPA | 3.66 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Aug 15, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $40 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Kansas Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,224 |
| Other Fees | $1,075 |
| Room and Board | $10,136 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,246 |
| Total One Year Cost | $25,773 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,224 |
| Other Fees | $1,075 |
| Room and Board | $10,136 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,246 |
| Total One Year Cost | $42,641 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 15% |
| Communication | 12% |
| Social Sciences | 9% |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 8% |
| Health Professions | 7% |
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Questions and Answers
CollegeSimply Advisor posts about University of Kansas.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=155317 IPEDS survey data for University of Kansas.
Current students may use the University of Kansas GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2024