Virginia vs Kansas State - 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 State admits 82%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Kansas State reports aid for international students ($5,729 on average), Virginia does not.
The tuition gap is $34,355 a year: $28,568 (Kansas State) against $62,923.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Virginia: $87K against $57K.
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
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 82% acceptance). Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #501-600). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $57K). Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 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 State 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 82% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1150).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $57K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 71.1%).
Kansas State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,568 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $15,968).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Virginia | Kansas State |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 16.81% | 82% |
| Yield rate | 40% | 27.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1150 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.81 |
| Number of applications | 58,951 | 15,432 |
| International students | 4.9% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $87K | $57K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $39K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $130K | $83K |
| Graduation rate | 95.6% | 71.1% |
| Retention rate | 97.9% | 85.6% |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $21,250 |
| Tuition · year | $62,923 | $28,568 |
| Avg. aid package | $37,123 | $15,968 |
| % of need met | 100% | 77% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,137 | $25,179 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 26,470 | 20,295 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Virginia or Kansas State?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Virginia accepts 16.81% of applicants, while Kansas State accepts 82%.
Do Virginia or Kansas State graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $57K.
How much is tuition at Virginia vs Kansas State?
Sticker-price tuition is $62,923 per year at Virginia and $28,568 per year at Kansas State.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia or Kansas State?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Virginia and 1150 at Kansas State; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Virginia or Kansas State?
Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #501-600 for Kansas State.
Which university offers more financial aid - Virginia or Kansas State?
The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $15,968 at Kansas State.
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