Kansas State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Manhattan, Kansas. It enrolls 15,142 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value60
Affordability37
Selectivity43
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.7%, Kansas State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1260
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Kansas State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
16.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Kansas State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,406 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,406
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,221
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$28,568
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,830
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,228
Books & Supplies
$1,020
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,070
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,070
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,402
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,178
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,143
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,369
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,110
Over $110,000
$23,665
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,78410%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$21,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $2,250
No Pell $15,183
↓ $6,067
Dependent students $17,355
↓ $3,895
Independent students $17,086
↓ $4,164
Female students $17,231
↓ $4,019
Male students $17,326
↓ $3,924
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,500, less than completers ($21,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Kansas State University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Kansas State University earn a median of $57,262 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,262
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,600, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Kansas State University is home to 15,142 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
15,142
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
22%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.9%11,939
Hispanic 9.7%1,466
Other 4.3%656
Black 2.9%441
Asian 1.9%294
International 1.6%244
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Kansas State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityManhattan, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential5,696 beds available
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Kansas State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
223 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas State University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,503
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$952M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,584
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
905 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
268
30%
$126,864
Associate Professors
229
25%
$98,816
Assistant Professors
141
16%
$86,045
Instructors
161
18%
$63,205
Lecturers
106
12%
$71,381
Pros & Cons of Kansas State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Kansas State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Kansas State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kansas State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Kansas State University.
Is Kansas State University hard to get into?
Kansas State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Kansas State University?
Kansas State University has an acceptance rate of 81.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Kansas State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Kansas State University scored between 1060 and 1260 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Kansas State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Kansas State University scored between 20 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Kansas State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Kansas State University is $19,406 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Kansas State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,262 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,406 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Kansas State University known for?
Kansas State University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Animal Sciences, Finance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Kansas State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Kansas State University are $57,262, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Kansas State University accredited?
Yes. Kansas State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Kansas State University?
Kansas State University enrolls 15,142 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Kansas State University?
Kansas State University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Kansas State University a public or private college?
Kansas State University is a Public institution.
Where is Kansas State University located?
Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas.
What programs does Kansas State University offer?
Kansas State University offers 223 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Animal Sciences, Finance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kansas
Other colleges in Kansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Business Administration
Kinesiology
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Kansas State University
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