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

Old Dominion vs Kansas - US university comparison

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

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

90.4% Acceptance rate 93.48%
19.9% Yield rate 25.5%
1197 Median SAT 1190
3.45 Avg. GPA 3.68
15,100 Number of applications 22,363
1.3% Int'l students 3.1%
$55K Median earnings · 10 yrs $62K
$37K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $40K
$80K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $88K
46.3% Graduation rate 68.8%
77% Retention rate 86%
$24,000 Median debt $21,000
$33,885 Tuition · year $30,432
$30,437 Avg. aid package $19,700
53% % of need met 78.6%
$32,043 Avg. graduate debt $27,212
$50 Application fee $40
$16,000 Avg. int'l aid $11,164
At a glance
Kansas leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$30,437 vs $19,700
Graduation46.3% vs 68.8%
% of need53% vs 78.6%

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: 1197 and 1190.

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 (#801-900 vs #301-400). 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 Old Dominion for: higher selectivity, a larger aid package.

Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

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$83kOld DominionKansas TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Old Dominion and Kansas highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Old Dominion Kansas
World rank · ARWU#801-900#301-400
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate90.4%93.48%
Yield rate19.9%25.5%
Median SAT11971190
Avg. GPA3.453.68
Number of applications15,10022,363
International students1.3%3.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$55K$62K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$37K$40K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$80K$88K
Graduation rate46.3%68.8%
Retention rate77%86%
Median debt$24,000$21,000
Tuition · year$33,885$30,432
Avg. aid package$30,437$19,700
% of need met53%78.6%
Avg. graduate debt$32,043$27,212
Application fee$50$40
Enrollment23,74329,792

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Kansas?

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

Do Old Dominion or Kansas graduates earn more?

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

How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Kansas?

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

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

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

Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Kansas?

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

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

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

Compare Old Dominion 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.