Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Lawrence , KS
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university located in Lawrence, Kansas. Established in 1865, KU is the flagship university of the state and offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines. It is known for its strong commitment to research, teaching, and service.
KU is home to 13 schools and colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering, and School of Pharmacy, among others. The university offers more than 370 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Students at KU benefit from a diverse and inclusive learning environment, where they can engage in academic and extracurricular activities that cater to their interests and passions.
As a research university, KU is dedicated to expanding knowledge and solving real-world problems through innovative research initiatives. The university has several research centers and institutes that focus on a wide range of topics, including health, technology, environment, and social sciences. KU researchers collaborate across disciplines to address complex global challenges and make a positive impact on society. With state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated faculty, KU provides students with opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Overall, The University of Kansas offers a vibrant academic community that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual growth. It provides students with a rich and fulfilling college experience, offering a wide range of resources, support services, and extracurricular activities. With its strong emphasis on research and commitment to excellence, KU prepares students for successful careers and lifelong learning in a rapidly changing world.
The University of Kansas is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Lawrence, KS. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 93%. The freshman retention rate at The University of Kansas is 86% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
For transfer students, the application deadline is July 11.
Read more about what The University of Kansas has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
22,085
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Here are the most important information you need to know about admission policy and requirements at The University of Kansas.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 20,905 in 2025. The University of Kansas has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
8.6% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 55.2% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 8% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 38% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44% between 1,000 and 1,199, 9% between 800 and 999, and 1% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 17, 35 between 24-29, 39 in the range between 18-23, and 9 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.68. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into The University of Kansas; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 596 and an average SAT Math score of 591.
Deadlines
For transfer students, the application deadline is July 11.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for The University of Kansas was 86% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at The University of Kansas in 2025 was 29,792.
That year, the school had 35% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 22,085 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 92 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,219 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 11,597 male and 13,688 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 14,708 Asian students and 910 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,271 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 587 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1,204 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 21 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 127 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at The University of Kansas that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $11,298, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $30,177. Tuition costs at The University of Kansas for international students added up to $30,177. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,155.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $30,177 | $1,155 | $31,332 |
| In-State | $11,298 | $1,155 | $12,453 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,224.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, the price of room and board at The University of Kansas was $11,798 per academic year. If you only wanted a room on the campus, you had to pay $6,898 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $7,581.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,298 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,798 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,224 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,320 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid at The University of Kansas.
According to the most recent data, 2,603 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $18,657.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 7,213 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 8,533. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $23,870,169, and state $9,214,598. The students of The University of Kansas received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $46,596,846, and external in the amount of $4,571,597.
$8,091
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,212 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 430 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $23,870,169 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $1,886. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $60,739,714. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,915,047 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at The University of Kansas was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 1,824 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,034 male and 790 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at The University of Kansas is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at The University of Kansas.
Its campus is 1,000 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 804 open-membership organizations at The University of Kansas. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 15% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 24 for female students. If you are interested in music, you can join the The University of Kansas band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? The University of Kansas publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
The University of Kansas has a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of The University of Kansas.
All in all, campus life at The University of Kansas is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at The University of Kansas.
Career Counselling
At The University of Kansas, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 61,285 USD.
$61,285
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
-
The University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for The University of Kansas is 93%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The University of Kansas is 86%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.