Iowa State vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Iowa State: 1250 against 1190, a gap of 60 points.
Neither is international in practice: the share of foreign students does not exceed 3.7%.
The median salary after a decade is practically identical ($63K against $62K), so this choice will not show up in your pay.
The gap in graduation rates is real: 75.3% (Iowa State) against 68.8%.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Iowa State is the more selective of the two (88.66% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #301-400). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($63K vs $62K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 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 Iowa State for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, a larger aid package, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa State is more selective (88.66% vs 93.48% acceptance); Iowa State has a higher median SAT (1250 vs 1190).
Iowa State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($63K vs $62K); Iowa State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.3% vs 68.8%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $30,432); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 22,363 |
| International students | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 86% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 78% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $40 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Iowa State. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Iowa State or Kansas graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $63K at Iowa State and $62K at Kansas.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Kansas?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $19,700 at Kansas.
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