University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Kansas vs Central florida — US university comparison

University of Kansas
KANSAS
Lawrence, KS
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance93.5%
Median SAT1190
Graduation rate68.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K
University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1269
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Kansas University of Central Florida
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #401-500
— Rank · THE —
93.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1190 Median SAT 1269
68.8% Graduation rate 78%
29,792 Enrollment 69,338

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

93.5% Acceptance rate 40.1%
25.5% Yield rate 33.5%
1190 Median SAT 1269
3.70 Avg. GPA 4.20
22,363 Number of applications 55,135
7% Int'l students 5%
$62K Median earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$59K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $51K
$88K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $86K
68.8% Graduation rate 78%
86% Retention rate 92.3%
$21,000 Median debt $18,190
$30,432 Tuition · year $22,467
$19,700 Avg. aid package $11,814
78.6% % of need met 65%
$27,212 Avg. graduate debt $20,529
$40 Application fee $30
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Central florida leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance93.5% vs 40.1%
Aid$19,700 vs $11,814
Tuition$30,432 vs $22,467

EXPERT TAKE

Central florida is the more selective of the two (40.1% vs 93.5% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #401-500). Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $58K). Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 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 Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

Choose Central florida for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Central florida is more selective (40.1% vs 93.5% acceptance); Central florida has a higher median SAT (1269 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $30,432); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kKansasCentral florida TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Kansas and Central florida highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Kansas Central florida
World rank · ARWU#301-400#401-500
Rank · THE——
Acceptance rate93.5%40.1%
Yield rate25.5%33.5%
Median SAT11901269
Avg. GPA3.704.20
Number of applications22,36355,135
International students7%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K$58K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$59K$51K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$88K$86K
Graduation rate68.8%78%
Retention rate86%92.3%
Median debt$21,000$18,190
Tuition · year$30,432$22,467
Avg. aid package$19,700$11,814
% of need met78.6%65%
Avg. graduate debt$27,212$20,529
Application fee$40$30
Enrollment29,79269,338

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Kansas or Central florida?

It's harder to get into Central florida. Kansas accepts 93.5% of applicants, while Central florida accepts 40.1%.

Do Kansas or Central florida graduates earn more?

Kansas graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $62K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Kansas vs Central florida?

Sticker-price tuition is $30,432 per year at Kansas and $22,467 per year at Central florida.

What SAT score do you need for Kansas or Central florida?

The median admitted SAT score is 1190 at Kansas and 1269 at Central florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Kansas or Central florida?

Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Kansas vs #401-500 for Central florida.

Which university offers more financial aid — Kansas or Central florida?

The average aid package is $19,700 at Kansas and $11,814 at Central florida.

Compare Kansas with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
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.