Kansas vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: North Carolina admits 15.3% of applications, Kansas admits 93.5%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Kansas reports aid for international students ($11,164 on average), North Carolina does not.
On paper the cheaper option is Kansas: $30,432 against $45,228, which is $14,796 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to North Carolina: $72K against $62K.
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
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 93.48% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #35). North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $45,228 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: lower tuition.
Choose North Carolina 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
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 93.48% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1190).
North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $19,700).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Kansas | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | - | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 93.48% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 25.5% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1190 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.68 | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 22,363 | 66,535 |
| International students | 3.1% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $40K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $88K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 68.8% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 86% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $30,432 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $19,700 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 78.6% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,212 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $40 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 29,792 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Kansas or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. Kansas accepts 93.48% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Kansas or North Carolina graduates earn more?
North Carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Kansas vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $30,432 per year at Kansas and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Kansas or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1190 at Kansas and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Kansas or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Kansas vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Kansas or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $19,700 at Kansas and $20,705 at North Carolina.
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