Temple vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The cheaper tuition belongs to Kansas: $30,432 against $40,144, or $9,712 less a year.
60 points separate the SAT profiles: 1250 (Temple) against 1190.
Both universities have a small international community (at most 4.4% 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 $58,550.
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
Temple is the more selective of the two (80.45% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #301-400). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($64K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $40,144 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 Temple for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher retention, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Temple is more selective (80.45% vs 93.48% acceptance); Temple has a higher median SAT (1250 vs 1190).
Temple graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($64K vs $62K); Temple has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $40,144); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $17,833).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Temple | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 80.45% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 15% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.42 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 40,817 | 22,363 |
| International students | 4.4% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $64K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $41K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 75% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 83% | 86% |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $40,144 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $17,833 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 60.5% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $41,808 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $55 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 29,637 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Temple or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Temple. Temple accepts 80.45% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Temple or Kansas graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $64K at Temple and $62K at Kansas.
How much is tuition at Temple vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $40,144 per year at Temple and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Temple or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Temple and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Temple or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Temple vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Temple or Kansas?
The average aid package is $17,833 at Temple and $19,700 at Kansas.
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