Kansas State vs Stanford - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Stanford admits 3.8% of applications, Kansas State admits 82%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Stanford: 13.1% of students against 1.7% (Kansas State).
Average aid for an international student is $85,424 (Stanford) and $5,729 (Kansas State).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Stanford starts at $97,545 against $43,928 and ends at $20,266 against $27,960 (Kansas State).
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
Stanford is the more selective of the two (3.8% vs 82% acceptance). Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #2). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $57K). Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $68,574 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 Stanford 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
Stanford is more selective (3.8% vs 82% acceptance); Stanford has a higher median SAT (1550 vs 1150).
Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $57K); Stanford has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.9% vs 71.1%).
Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $68,574); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($77,279 vs $15,968).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Kansas State | Stanford |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #2 |
| Rank · THE | - | #6 |
| Acceptance rate | 82% | 3.8% |
| Yield rate | 27.5% | 79.9% |
| Median SAT | 1150 | 1550 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.81 | 3.94 |
| Number of applications | 15,432 | 60,646 |
| International students | 1.7% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $57K | $124K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $73K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $220K |
| Graduation rate | 71.1% | 91.9% |
| Retention rate | 85.6% | 97.5% |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $12,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,568 | $68,574 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,968 | $77,279 |
| % of need met | 77% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,179 | $28,507 |
| Application fee | $40 | $100 |
| Enrollment | 20,295 | 18,121 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Kansas State or Stanford?
It's harder to get into Stanford. Kansas State accepts 82% of applicants, while Stanford accepts 3.8%.
Do Kansas State or Stanford graduates earn more?
Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $57K.
How much is tuition at Kansas State vs Stanford?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,568 per year at Kansas State and $68,574 per year at Stanford.
What SAT score do you need for Kansas State or Stanford?
The median admitted SAT score is 1150 at Kansas State and 1550 at Stanford; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Kansas State or Stanford?
Stanford ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Kansas State vs #2 for Stanford.
Which university offers more financial aid - Kansas State or Stanford?
The average aid package is $15,968 at Kansas State and $77,279 at Stanford.
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