What is the acceptance rate at University of Kansas?

University of Kansas's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Lawrence, KS), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for University of Kansas?

Admitted students at University of Kansas typically score 1070–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does University of Kansas cost?

At University of Kansas, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,059 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend University of Kansas?

University of Kansas enrolls approximately 21,217 undergraduate students.

Where is University of Kansas located?

University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS.

University of Kansas: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Kansas

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KSpublicku.edu

Acceptance

93%

SAT 25–75

1070–1300

Avg net price

$18,059

Earnings (10 yr)

$61,945

Graduation rate

69%

Admit rate has ranged 88%–93% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

The University of Kansas is a big-tent public research university with Midwestern warmth and the academic heft of an AAU member. Known for its spirited basketball culture and sprawling hilltop campus, KU combines accessibility (a 93% acceptance rate) with strong outcomes in fields like business and nursing. Its Lawrence setting offers a quintessential college-town vibe, where students balance Big 12 sports mania with surprisingly robust undergraduate research opportunities.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

High school transcript
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 21,217
In-state tuition: $12,102
Out-of-state tuition: $30,432
AAU Member: Yes
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Median Earnings: $69,680
6-Year Grad Rate: 70.3%
Student Organizations: 600+

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $61,945
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.4×
Median debt at graduation: $21,000
Graduation rate: 69%
First-year retention: 86%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 66%
Pell (lower-income) share: 48%
First-generation share: 22%
Endowment / student: $120,049

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$69,338
Mechanical Engineering$66,001
Computer and Information Sciences, General$64,990
Civil Engineering$63,666
Petroleum Engineering$63,005
Chemical Engineering$59,722

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 46
Per 1,000 students: 2.17

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 72
Summer high: 87°F
Winter low: 26°F
Annual rain: 43.6"
Annual snow: 17.5"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 691
Scholarly works: 115,578

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Future-scholar output

Humanities & social-science PhDstop 42 nationally

Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.0%
Bottom → top quintile: 29%

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at University of Kansas?: University of Kansas's acceptance rate is approximately 93% (Lawrence, KS), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of Kansas?: Admitted students at University of Kansas typically score 1070–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of Kansas cost?: At University of Kansas, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,059 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Kansas?: University of Kansas enrolls approximately 21,217 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Kansas located?: University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS.

Admissions

KU is one of the least selective flagship universities in the AAU, admitting 93% of applicants according to multiple sources. The bar is clear-cut: either a 3.25+ high school GPA or a 2.0 GPA plus 21 ACT/1060 SAT. Test scores aren't required but are considered for some applicants. Reddit threads confirm the laid-back vibe ('88% , not a wildly prestigious school so you'll probably be fine'). Notably, some programs like nursing and engineering have higher benchmarks.

prepscholar.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org niche.com admissions.ku.edu reddit.com aire.ku.edu