Kansas State University
MANHATTAN, KS
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EDINBURG, TEXAS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Kansas State vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - US university comparison

Kansas State University
KANSAS STATE
Manhattan, KS
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance82%
Median SAT1150
Graduation rate71.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$57K
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Edinburg, Texas
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance94.2%
Median SAT985
Graduation rate50.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$50K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Kansas State University University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #801-900
- Rank · THE -
82% Acceptance rate 94.2%
1150 Median SAT 985
71.1% Graduation rate 50.9%
20,295 Enrollment 31,864

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

82% Acceptance rate 94.2%
27.5% Yield rate 55.4%
1150 Median SAT 985
3.81 Avg. GPA -
15,432 Number of applications 12,137
1.7% Int'l students 1.7%
$57K Median earnings · 10 yrs $50K
$39K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $29K
$83K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $67K
71.1% Graduation rate 50.9%
85.6% Retention rate 78.9%
$21,250 Median debt $12,950
$28,568 Tuition · year $22,287
$15,968 Avg. aid package $11,242
77% % of need met 72%
$25,179 Avg. graduate debt $14,589
$40 Application fee -
$5,729 Avg. int'l aid $6,258
At a glance
Kansas State leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
Yield27.5% vs 55.4%
Grad. debt$25,179 vs $14,589
Debt$21,250 vs $12,950

The verdict, from the data

The tuition gap is $6,281 a year: $22,287 (Texas Rio Grande Valley) against $28,568.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Kansas State: $57K against $50K.

Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Kansas State: a midpoint of 1150 against 985, a difference of 165 points.

Students admitted to both more often choose Texas Rio Grande Valley (55.4% enrol, against 27.5%).

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

Kansas State is the more selective of the two (82% vs 94.2% acceptance). Kansas State ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #801-900). Kansas State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($57K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $28,568 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: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Kansas State is more selective (82% vs 94.2% acceptance); Kansas State has a higher median SAT (1150 vs 985).

Graduate outcomes

Kansas State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($57K vs $50K); Kansas State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (71.1% vs 50.9%).

Cost and aid

Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $28,568); Kansas State offers a larger average aid package ($15,968 vs $11,242).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kKansas StateTexas Rio Grande Valley TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Kansas State and Texas Rio Grande Valley highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Kansas State Texas Rio Grande Valley
World rank · ARWU#501-600#801-900
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate82%94.2%
Yield rate27.5%55.4%
Median SAT1150985
Avg. GPA3.81-
Number of applications15,43212,137
International students1.7%1.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$57K$50K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$39K$29K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$83K$67K
Graduation rate71.1%50.9%
Retention rate85.6%78.9%
Median debt$21,250$12,950
Tuition · year$28,568$22,287
Avg. aid package$15,968$11,242
% of need met77%72%
Avg. graduate debt$25,179$14,589
Application fee$40-
Enrollment20,29531,864

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Kansas State or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

It's harder to get into Kansas State. Kansas State accepts 82% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.

Do Kansas State or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?

Kansas State graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $57K vs $50K.

How much is tuition at Kansas State vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Sticker-price tuition is $28,568 per year at Kansas State and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

What SAT score do you need for Kansas State or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The median admitted SAT score is 1150 at Kansas State and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Kansas State or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

Kansas State ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Kansas State vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Which university offers more financial aid - Kansas State or Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The average aid package is $15,968 at Kansas State and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Compare Kansas State with
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.