Texas Rio Grande Valley vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
On paper the cheaper option is Texas Rio Grande Valley: $22,287 against $30,432, which is $8,145 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Kansas: $62K against $50K.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Kansas: 1190 against 985, a gap of 205 points.
Students admitted to both more often choose Texas Rio Grande Valley (55.4% enrol, against 25.5%).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
Kansas is the more selective of the two (93.48% vs 94.2% 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 $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $30,432 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Kansas 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
Kansas is more selective (93.48% vs 94.2% acceptance); Kansas has a higher median SAT (1190 vs 985).
Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $50K); Kansas has a higher 6-year graduation rate (68.8% vs 50.9%).
Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $30,432); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $11,242).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas Rio Grande Valley | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 94.2% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 55.4% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 985 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 12,137 | 22,363 |
| International students | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $29K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 50.9% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 78.9% | 86% |
| Median debt | $12,950 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $22,287 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,242 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 72% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $14,589 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | - | $40 |
| Enrollment | 31,864 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas Rio Grande Valley or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Kansas. Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Texas Rio Grande Valley or Kansas graduates earn more?
Kansas graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $62K vs $50K.
How much is tuition at Texas Rio Grande Valley vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Texas Rio Grande Valley or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas Rio Grande Valley or Kansas?
The average aid package is $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley and $19,700 at Kansas.
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