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Pittsburg State University
Admission at Pittsburg State University is close to open (89.4%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $50,579 median earnings below before the application.
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Pittsburg State University anchors the college town of Pittsburg, KS, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other, where graduates median $111,920 four years out. 30.5% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 4,210 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 77.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Pittsburg State University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Pittsburg State University received 2,856 applications and admitted 2,518 (88.2%), with 877 enrolling.
Pittsburg State University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Pittsburg State University's submitters' middle half scored 18–24 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Pittsburg State University compares
| Pittsburg State University | Kansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.4% | 80.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,400 | $33,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $50,579 | $52,113 | $53,781 |
At $50,579, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($52,113). Look at Pittsburg State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $8,400 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,744. For non-residents, Pittsburg State University's $19,744 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 4,210 undergrads, Pittsburg State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
56.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 43% don't — ask a Pittsburg State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Pittsburg State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | $111,920 |
| Construction Management | $90,321 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $81,562 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,033 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $74,878 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $71,199 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $70,657 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $66,851 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $64,565 |
| Marketing | $60,219 |
| Biology, General | $56,733 |
| Social Work | $53,878 |
| Psychology, General | $51,640 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,023 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,757 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,931 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,940 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,465 |
| Graphic Communications | $39,946 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $34,318 |
Median earnings for these 20 Pittsburg State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $50,579 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 24 additional Pittsburg State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Pittsburg State University?
The middle 50% of Pittsburg State University's submitters earned ACT composites of 18–24; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Pittsburg State University's acceptance rate?
88.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,518 admitted from 2,856 applicants.
How much does Pittsburg State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,400; out-of-state students pay $19,744. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Pittsburg State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $50,579 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kansas
- University of Saint Mary — 86.6% admitted
- Manhattan Christian College — 100% admitted
- University of Kansas — 93.5% admitted
- Wichita State University — 94% 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.