West Virginia vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: West Virginia awards international students $21,636 on average, Kansas awards $11,164.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Kansas: $62K against $56K.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Kansas: 1190 against 1110, a gap of 80 points.
Both universities have a small international community (at most 3.1% of students), which is worth weighing if that environment matters to you.
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
West Virginia is the more selective of the two (89% vs 93.48% acceptance). Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #301-400). Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia for: higher selectivity, lower tuition.
Choose Kansas for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
West Virginia is more selective (89% vs 93.48% acceptance); Kansas has a higher median SAT (1190 vs 1110).
Kansas graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($62K vs $56K); Kansas has a higher 6-year graduation rate (68.8% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $30,432); Kansas offers a larger average aid package ($19,700 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 22,363 |
| International students | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 86% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 63% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $65 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Kansas?
It's harder to get into West Virginia. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do West Virginia or Kansas graduates earn more?
Kansas graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $62K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Kansas?
Kansas ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Kansas?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $19,700 at Kansas.
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