Kansas State University
#2 Best Business Colleges in Kansas- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,262 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,406 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Business Colleges in Kansas.
Every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,290,623.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 40% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 46%
- Patents
- 189
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #350-400
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 3,115
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 14/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Kansas State University Matters
Kansas State University is a public research university in Manhattan, KS ranked #350-400 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 15,142
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Education, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Kansas State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1060–1260. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,406 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,262 ten years after enrolling — 40% above the typical college, against $21,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 61% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 15,000 students, Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, is a welcoming place for diverse learners. An acceptance rate of 82% means that many students can find a home here. Those interested in fields like Business, Engineering, Education, and Biology will find solid programs that prepare them for the workforce. K-State stands out for its supportive environment, where students can explore a range of disciplines while connecting with peers and faculty.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $57,262 within ten years, which reflects a solid return on their investment. This figure is particularly encouraging when considering the affordability of education here. K-State's net price after aid is around $19,406, making it manageable for many families. Graduates tend to find decent job stability and opportunities for advancement, which suggests that a degree from K-State opens doors in various sectors.
In terms of financial considerations, the median debt for graduates stands at $21,250, which is fairly reasonable given the average earnings post-graduation. We often see students who thrive here are those who take advantage of the support systems and resources available, including academic advising and career services. K-State fosters a community where students can engage deeply with their studies and prepare effectively for their future careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Kansas State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kansas State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Kansas State University, located in Manhattan, Kansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1151
- SAT Range
- 1060–1260
- ACT Range
- 20–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 90%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,853
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 9,706
- Admitted
- 9,234
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Kansas State University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 28% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 28%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 7%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 80%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kansas State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kansas State University is $28,568, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,406. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,221
- Out-of-State
- $28,568
- Avg Net Price
- $19,406
- Median Debt
- $21,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,178
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,143
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,369
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,665
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Kansas State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Kansas State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kansas State University earn a median of $57,262, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,330
- 8 Years
- $52,622
- 10 Years
- $57,262
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,488)
- 40%
- 100% (1,488)
- 40%
- 100% (1,488)
- 40%
- 100% (1,488)
- 40%
How Kansas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Kansas State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Kansas State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,406/year ($77,624 total). Graduates earn $57,262 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,368,247 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,290,623 (17.6× your investment). The median debt is $21,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $77,624
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,368,247
- Net Return
- $1,290,623
- ROI Multiple
- 17.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,406
- Median Debt
- $21,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Kansas State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kansas State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.27%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.27%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 29.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,132
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Kansas State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 189 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 14/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.50%
- Top 46% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 189
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 3,115
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 14/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 34/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 36/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.17%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $1,658,097
Top Programs
The fields Kansas State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 28% $69,715 early-career
- Engineering 10% $85,234 early-career
- Education 8% $45,780 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $36,275 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $52,935 early-career
- Health Professions 3% $55,745 early-career
- Transportation 3% $55,225 early-career
- Psychology 3% $36,045 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Kansas State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kansas State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Kansas State University, located in Manhattan, Kansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kansas State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kansas State University is $28,568, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,406. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,250 in federal student loans.
Is Kansas State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kansas State University earn a median of $57,262, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Kansas State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kansas State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.27%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 29.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Kansas State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kansas State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Kansas State University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Kansas State University at #350-400 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 14/100, teaching at 21/100, and citation impact of 34/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Kansas State University offer Early Decision?
No. Kansas State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Kansas State University really test-optional?
Kansas State University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 87% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2025-26 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Kansas State University?
About 28% of admitted students choose to enroll at Kansas State University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Kansas State University.
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Close peer63% grad $57,624 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · Close peer61% grad $53,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · Close peer66% grad $56,887 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA · Close peer70% grad $61,258 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · Close peer68% grad $59,988 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Kansas State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kansas State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note