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Kansas State University
Kansas State University says yes to 81.7% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $57,262 median earnings.
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Kansas State University sits in Manhattan proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $107,194 four years out. 20.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 15,142 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 85.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1040 and 1260 — above the KS middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Kansas State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Kansas State University received 13,437 applications and admitted 10,663 (79.4%), with 3,187 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1040–1260 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Kansas State University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 530 | 580 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 510 | 560 | 630 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 27 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Kansas State University compares
| Kansas State University | Kansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 81.7% | 80.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,221 | $33,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $57,262 | $52,113 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Kansas State University: $57,262 median at year ten, versus $52,113 across Kansas institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,221 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $28,568. For non-residents, Kansas State University's $28,568 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Kansas State University is a big school: 15,142 undergraduates at last count.
71.1% of Kansas State University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 16.2 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $11,221 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Kansas State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $107,194 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,640 |
| Industrial Engineering | $93,098 |
| Chemical Engineering | $92,068 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $91,809 |
| Architectural Engineering | $91,336 |
| Agricultural and Food Products Processing | $91,040 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,533 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $85,396 |
| Air Transportation | $85,147 |
| Civil Engineering | $83,453 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $81,376 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $79,008 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $78,537 |
| Food Science and Technology | $78,367 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $75,705 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $72,544 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $72,398 |
| Economics | $71,747 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $70,601 |
| Marketing | $69,837 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,735 |
| Natural Sciences | $68,243 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $66,387 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $65,677 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $65,122 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,811 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $62,128 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $61,621 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $61,150 |
| Gerontology | $60,172 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $59,824 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $59,809 |
| Plant Sciences | $58,603 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $58,282 |
| Biology, General | $57,718 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $57,576 |
| Journalism | $56,418 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $55,985 |
| Mathematics | $55,435 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | $53,401 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $53,389 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $53,337 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,603 |
| Sociology | $51,237 |
| Animal Sciences | $50,941 |
| Social Sciences, General | $50,681 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $50,522 |
| Social Work | $50,480 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,448 |
| History | $50,016 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $49,593 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $48,908 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,801 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $47,528 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,562 |
| Anthropology | $41,426 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,991 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,598 |
Median earnings for these 59 Kansas State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $57,262 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 35 additional Kansas State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Kansas State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1040–1260 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 81.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Kansas State University's acceptance rate?
79.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 10,663 admitted from 13,437 applicants.
How much does Kansas State University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,221; out-of-state students pay $28,568. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Kansas State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $57,262 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kansas
- Kansas Wesleyan University — 71.9% admitted
- Newman University — 74% admitted
- McPherson College — 76.8% admitted
- MidAmerica Nazarene University — 78.8% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.