Central Florida vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Central Florida admits 44.7%, Kansas admits 93.5%.
Real money goes to international students at Kansas ($11,164 on average), while Central Florida stops at $928.
The tuition gap is $6,356 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $30,432.
70 points separate the SAT profiles: 1260 (Central Florida) against 1190.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #301-400). Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $30,432 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Central Florida for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 93.48% acceptance); Central Florida has a higher median SAT (1260 vs 1190).
Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $58K); Central Florida has a higher 6-year graduation rate (78% vs 68.8%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $30,432); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 22,363 |
| International students | 3.3% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 86% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 65% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $30 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Central Florida. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Central Florida or Kansas graduates earn more?
Kansas graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $62K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Kansas?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $19,700 at Kansas.
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