University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Kansas vs North carolina — 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Kansas University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #35
— Rank · THE #70
93.5% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1190 Median SAT 1439
68.8% Graduation rate 91.2%
29,792 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

93.5% Acceptance rate 15.3%
25.5% Yield rate 45.5%
1190 Median SAT 1439
3.70 Avg. GPA 4.50
22,363 Number of applications 66,535
7% Int'l students 9%
$62K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$59K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$88K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
68.8% Graduation rate 91.2%
86% Retention rate 96.6%
$21,000 Median debt $14,000
$30,432 Tuition · year $41,203
$19,700 Avg. aid package $20,705
78.6% % of need met 100%
$27,212 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$40 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance93.5% vs 15.3%
Yield25.5% vs 45.5%
Debt$21,000 vs $14,000

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 93.5% 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 $41,203 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

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 93.5% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $19,700).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Kansas North carolina
World rank · ARWU#301-400#35
Rank · THE—#70
Acceptance rate93.5%15.3%
Yield rate25.5%45.5%
Median SAT11901439
Avg. GPA3.704.50
Number of applications22,36366,535
International students7%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$59K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$88K$112K
Graduation rate68.8%91.2%
Retention rate86%96.6%
Median debt$21,000$14,000
Tuition · year$30,432$41,203
Avg. aid package$19,700$20,705
% of need met78.6%100%
Avg. graduate debt$27,212$20,382
Application fee$40$85
Enrollment29,79232,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Kansas or North carolina?

It's harder to get into North carolina. Kansas accepts 93.5% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

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 $41,203 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 1439 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.

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.