Virginia vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Virginia admits 16.8% of applications, Kansas admits 93.5%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Kansas reports aid for international students ($11,164 on average), Virginia does not.
The tuition gap is $32,491 a year: $30,432 (Kansas) against $62,923.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Virginia: $87K against $62K.
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
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 93.48% acceptance). Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #301-400). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $62,923 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 Virginia for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Kansas for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 93.48% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1190).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $62K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $19,700).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Virginia | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 16.81% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 40% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 58,951 | 22,363 |
| International students | 4.9% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $87K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $130K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 95.6% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 97.9% | 86% |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $62,923 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $37,123 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 100% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,137 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 26,470 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Virginia or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Virginia accepts 16.81% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Virginia or Kansas graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Virginia vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $62,923 per year at Virginia and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Virginia and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Virginia or Kansas?
Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Virginia or Kansas?
The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $19,700 at Kansas.
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