Kansas State vs Rice - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Rice admits 8% of applications, Kansas State admits 82%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Rice: 13% of students against 1.7% (Kansas State).
Real money goes to international students at Rice ($76,332 on average), while Kansas State stops at $5,729.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Rice starts at $92,262 against $43,928 and ends at $23,222 against $27,960 (Kansas State).
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
Rice is the more selective of the two (8% vs 82% acceptance). Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #101-150). Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $57K). Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $67,497 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 Kansas State for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Rice for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rice is more selective (8% vs 82% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1150).
Rice graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($90K vs $57K); Rice has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.6% vs 71.1%).
Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $67,497); Rice offers a larger average aid package ($69,040 vs $15,968).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Kansas State | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #101-150 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 82% | 8% |
| Yield rate | 27.5% | 44.2% |
| Median SAT | 1150 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.81 | - |
| Number of applications | 15,432 | 32,473 |
| International students | 1.7% | 13% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $57K | $90K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $63K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $144K |
| Graduation rate | 71.1% | 94.6% |
| Retention rate | 85.6% | 97.4% |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $11,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,568 | $67,497 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,968 | $69,040 |
| % of need met | 77% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,179 | $28,418 |
| Application fee | $40 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 20,295 | 8,961 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Kansas State or Rice?
It's harder to get into Rice. Kansas State accepts 82% of applicants, while Rice accepts 8%.
Do Kansas State or Rice graduates earn more?
Rice graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $90K vs $57K.
How much is tuition at Kansas State vs Rice?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,568 per year at Kansas State and $67,497 per year at Rice.
What SAT score do you need for Kansas State or Rice?
The median admitted SAT score is 1150 at Kansas State and 1540 at Rice; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Kansas State or Rice?
Rice ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Kansas State vs #101-150 for Rice.
Which university offers more financial aid - Kansas State or Rice?
The average aid package is $15,968 at Kansas State and $69,040 at Rice.
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