Yale vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Yale admits 4.7% of applications, Kansas admits 93.5%.
The more international environment is at Yale (10.6% international students) than Kansas (3.1%).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Yale awards international students $84,185 on average, Kansas awards $11,164.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Kansas: $30,432 against $72,500, or $42,068 less a year.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 93.48% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #301-400). Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $72,500 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 Yale 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
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 93.48% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1190).
Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $62K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $72,500); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $19,700).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Yale | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 22,363 |
| International students | 10.6% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 86% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 100% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $80 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Yale or Kansas graduates earn more?
Yale graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $101K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Yale vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or Kansas?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or Kansas?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $19,700 at Kansas.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina