University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
Old Dominion University
NORFOLK, VA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Kansas vs Old Dominion - US university comparison

University of Kansas
KANSAS
Lawrence, KS
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance93.48%
Median SAT1190
Graduation rate68.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K
Old Dominion University
OLD DOMINION
Norfolk, VA
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance90.4%
Median SAT1197
Graduation rate46.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$55K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Kansas Old Dominion University
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #801-900
- Rank · THE -
93.48% Acceptance rate 90.4%
1190 Median SAT 1197
68.8% Graduation rate 46.3%
29,792 Enrollment 23,743

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

93.48% Acceptance rate 90.4%
25.5% Yield rate 19.9%
1190 Median SAT 1197
3.68 Avg. GPA 3.45
22,363 Number of applications 15,100
3.1% Int'l students 1.3%
$62K Median earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$40K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $37K
$88K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $80K
68.8% Graduation rate 46.3%
86% Retention rate 77%
$21,000 Median debt $24,000
$30,432 Tuition · year $33,885
$19,700 Avg. aid package $30,437
78.6% % of need met 53%
$27,212 Avg. graduate debt $32,043
$40 Application fee $50
$11,164 Avg. int'l aid $16,000
At a glance
Kansas leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$19,700 vs $30,437
Graduation68.8% vs 46.3%
% of need78.6% vs 53%

The verdict, from the data

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Kansas: $62K against $55K.

On SAT scores this is the same calibre of applicant: 1190 and 1197.

Both universities have a small international community (at most 3.1% of students), which is worth weighing if that environment matters to you.

With housing and meals included, the full cost of a year is $47,138 (Kansas) against $55,051.

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

Old Dominion is the more selective of the two (90.4% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #801-900). Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $55K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $33,885 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 higher graduation rate.

Choose Old Dominion for: higher selectivity, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Old Dominion is more selective (90.4% vs 93.48% acceptance); Old Dominion has a higher median SAT (1197 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $55K); Kansas has a higher 6-year graduation rate (68.8% vs 46.3%).

Cost and aid

Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $33,885); Old Dominion offers a larger average aid package ($30,437 vs $19,700).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kKansasOld Dominion TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Kansas and Old Dominion highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Kansas Old Dominion
World rank · ARWU#301-400#801-900
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate93.48%90.4%
Yield rate25.5%19.9%
Median SAT11901197
Avg. GPA3.683.45
Number of applications22,36315,100
International students3.1%1.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K$55K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$40K$37K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$88K$80K
Graduation rate68.8%46.3%
Retention rate86%77%
Median debt$21,000$24,000
Tuition · year$30,432$33,885
Avg. aid package$19,700$30,437
% of need met78.6%53%
Avg. graduate debt$27,212$32,043
Application fee$40$50
Enrollment29,79223,743

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Kansas or Old Dominion?

It's harder to get into Old Dominion. Kansas accepts 93.48% of applicants, while Old Dominion accepts 90.4%.

Do Kansas or Old Dominion graduates earn more?

Kansas graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $62K vs $55K.

How much is tuition at Kansas vs Old Dominion?

Sticker-price tuition is $30,432 per year at Kansas and $33,885 per year at Old Dominion.

What SAT score do you need for Kansas or Old Dominion?

The median admitted SAT score is 1190 at Kansas and 1197 at Old Dominion; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Kansas or Old Dominion?

Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Kansas vs #801-900 for Old Dominion.

Which university offers more financial aid - Kansas or Old Dominion?

The average aid package is $19,700 at Kansas and $30,437 at Old Dominion.

Compare Kansas 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.