University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
Kansas State University
MANHATTAN, KS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Rochester vs Kansas state — US university comparison

University of Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1488
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
Kansas State University
KANSAS STATE
Manhattan, KS
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance81.7%
Median SAT1151
Graduation rate71.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$57K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Rochester Kansas State University
#151-200 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#127 Rank · THE —
40.1% Acceptance rate 81.7%
1488 Median SAT 1151
85.4% Graduation rate 71.1%
11,946 Enrollment 20,295

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

40.1% Acceptance rate 81.7%
15.4% Yield rate 27.5%
1488 Median SAT 1151
3.70 Avg. GPA 3.80
21,384 Number of applications 15,432
37% Int'l students 5%
$79K Median earnings · 10 yrs $57K
$74K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $52K
$117K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $83K
85.4% Graduation rate 71.1%
90.7% Retention rate 85.6%
$21,000 Median debt $21,250
$67,080 Tuition · year $28,568
$60,879 Avg. aid package $15,968
96.1% % of need met 77%
$32,304 Avg. graduate debt $25,179
$50 Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Rochester leads in 8 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$60,879 vs $15,968
Tuition$67,080 vs $28,568
Acceptance40.1% vs 81.7%

EXPERT TAKE

Rochester is the more selective of the two (40.1% vs 81.7% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #501-600). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $57K). Kansas state has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $67,080 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 Rochester for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Kansas state for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Rochester is more selective (40.1% vs 81.7% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1151).

Graduate outcomes

Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $57K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 71.1%).

Cost and aid

Kansas state has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $67,080); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $15,968).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Rochester Kansas state
World rank · ARWU#151-200#501-600
Rank · THE#127—
Acceptance rate40.1%81.7%
Yield rate15.4%27.5%
Median SAT14881151
Avg. GPA3.703.80
Number of applications21,38415,432
International students37%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K$57K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$74K$52K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$117K$83K
Graduation rate85.4%71.1%
Retention rate90.7%85.6%
Median debt$21,000$21,250
Tuition · year$67,080$28,568
Avg. aid package$60,879$15,968
% of need met96.1%77%
Avg. graduate debt$32,304$25,179
Application fee$50$40
Enrollment11,94620,295

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Rochester or Kansas state?

It's harder to get into Rochester. Rochester accepts 40.1% of applicants, while Kansas state accepts 81.7%.

Do Rochester or Kansas state graduates earn more?

Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $57K.

How much is tuition at Rochester vs Kansas state?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,080 per year at Rochester and $28,568 per year at Kansas state.

What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Kansas state?

The median admitted SAT score is 1488 at Rochester and 1151 at Kansas state; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Rochester or Kansas state?

Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #501-600 for Kansas state.

Which university offers more financial aid — Rochester or Kansas state?

The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $15,968 at Kansas state.

Compare Rochester 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.