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Kansas State University

Public

Manhattan, KS

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Located in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public very large school with roughly 15,142 undergraduates. It's not highly selective, admitting a majority of applicants, admitting about 82% of applicants. Among reported majors, Computer and Information Sciences, General shows the strongest outcomes -- $107,194/year in median earnings four years after graduation. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate82%
SAT range1060–1260
ACT range20–27
Undergrads15,142
Yield (admits who enroll)32%
Next deadlineRolling admission

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$27,402
4-year grad rate71%
Median earnings, 10yr out$57,262

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Kansas State University's numbers?

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How Kansas State University weighs your application

From Kansas State University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordNot considered
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresImportant
Application essayConsidered
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesNot considered
Talent/abilityNot considered
Character/personal qualitiesNot considered
First generationNot considered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workNot considered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans36%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out68%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural and Food Products Processing$91,040/yr
Agricultural Mechanization$78,537/yr
Food Science and Technology$78,367/yr
Agricultural Business and Management$66,387/yr
Plant Sciences$58,603/yr
Animal Sciences$50,941/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$65,677/yr
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$65,122/yr
Biology, General$57,718/yr
Zoology/Animal Biology$48,908/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Management Information Systems and Services$85,396/yr
Accounting and Related Services$79,008/yr
Finance and Financial Management Services$75,705/yr
Business/Commerce, General$70,601/yr
Marketing$69,837/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$69,735/yr
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$59,809/yr
Hospitality Administration/Management$58,282/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Journalism$56,418/yr
Communication and Media Studies$52,603/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$107,194/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$48,801/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$46,562/yr
Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$95,640/yr
Industrial Engineering$93,098/yr
Chemical Engineering$92,068/yr
Architectural Engineering$91,336/yr
Mechanical Engineering$88,533/yr
Civil Engineering$83,453/yr
Agricultural Engineering$81,376/yr
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$91,809/yr
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$72,544/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$50,448/yr
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Apparel and Textiles$57,576/yr
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General$49,593/yr
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$47,528/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$61,621/yr
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$59,824/yr
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$55,985/yr
History
History$50,016/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$55,435/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Natural Sciences$68,243/yr
Nutrition Sciences$62,128/yr
Gerontology$60,172/yr
International/Globalization Studies$53,389/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$72,398/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other$53,401/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$50,522/yr
Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology$53,337/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Social Work$50,480/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$71,747/yr
Political Science and Government$63,811/yr
Sociology$51,237/yr
Social Sciences, General$50,681/yr
Anthropology$41,426/yr
Transportation and Materials Moving
Air Transportation$85,147/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$61,150/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$39,991/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$39,598/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity5,696
Typical room charge$5,200
Typical board charge$4,900

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsNot considered

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Kansas State University look for in applicants?

Per Kansas State University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Kansas State University's acceptance rate?

Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS admits approximately 82% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Kansas State University?

Admitted students at Kansas State University typically score between 1060–1260 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Kansas State University?

Admitted students at Kansas State University typically score between 20–27 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Kansas State University cost?

Kansas State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $27,402 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does Kansas State University require students to live on campus?

No -- Kansas State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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