University of Kansas

Public · Moderately Selective · KS

Photo: Arnhem (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationKS · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads21,217

Student:faculty18:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate55%

6-yr grad rate68.8%

Drop-out rate13.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$12k

Out-of-state tuition$30k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity30.7%

Gender diversity53.6%

International2.8%

Identity—

Overview

The University of Kansas is the state's flagship public research university, set on Mount Oread above Lawrence, a lively college town with an independent, arts-and-music-forward character distinct from many Big 12 towns. KU carries itself as both a serious research institution — with a full Medical Center campus in Kansas City handling health-professional training and clinical research — and a school with deep, unusually well-preserved campus traditions. Founded in the 1860s, it has long positioned itself as the state's primary research university, distinct from the more applied, land-grant mission of Kansas State.

Academics

Journalism, pharmacy, engineering, and special education are among its most respected programs; KU's William Allen White School of Journalism carries particular historical weight, and its pharmacy school is one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River. The university supports a wide range of graduate research alongside its undergraduate colleges, and its special education faculty have historically been influential nationally in shaping the field. Class sizes vary by college, with the flagship research identity meaning some large lecture courses alongside more intimate upper-division and honors work.

Campus & student life

Lawrence is frequently cited as one of the best college towns in the Midwest, with a walkable downtown, strong live-music scene, and a campus culture that blends academic seriousness with genuine school spirit. Basketball is central to campus identity — James Naismith, the inventor of the game, coached at KU, and the program is one of the most storied in the sport's history — and traditions like waving the wheat and chanting Rock Chalk Jayhawk run through campus life well beyond game days. Late Night in the Phog, the annual season-opening event, draws a campus-wide crowd even before official practice begins.

Getting in

Admission is less essay-driven and more transcript- and test-record-based than at elite privates, typical of large public flagships, though specific colleges like journalism, engineering, or the honors program may weigh coursework preparation and supplemental materials more heavily. Kansas residents benefit from a straightforward, formula-leaning path into the university, while out-of-state and international applicants see a somewhat more competitive review.

After graduation

Graduates move into strong regional and national pipelines in journalism and media, pharmacy and health care, and engineering, supported by an alumni network with deep loyalty to the university, much of it channeled through the basketball program's national visibility. The KU Medical Center campus also feeds a steady pipeline of Kansas-trained physicians, nurses, and health professionals back into the state and the broader Midwest.

Worth knowing

Students should know KU operates on a fairly traditional research-flagship model with distinct undergraduate schools, so program strength varies meaningfully by college even within one university. The men's basketball program's history is genuinely foundational to the sport rather than incidental school pride, given Naismith's own ties to the program.

ku.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate93.5%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1070–1300 · ACT 20–28

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App or Own application.

Priority / scholarshipDec 1

Financial aid formsFeb 1

There's no binding early decision or early action; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applying by the scholarship deadline is what matters most for financial consideration.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗