Kansas State University — College Profile

About

Founded as the nation's first operational land-grant institution, Kansas State University in Manhattan is renowned for top-tier programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, architecture, and engineering. The university is a global leader in food safety and biosecurity research, a standing reinforced by its integration with the adjacent federal National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). Student life is defined by the deeply supportive "Wildcat Family" culture, high-energy Big 12 athletic traditions, and the lively social hub of Aggieville situated just steps from campus.

Wikipedia:Kansas State University is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public institution of higher learning in the state of Kansas. It is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Location

Manhattan, KS, 66506 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MCI · Kansas City

100 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$11,221$28,568

Housing & food (on campus)$12,830$12,830

Books & supplies$1,020$1,020

Cost of attendance$27,402$44,749 est.

Average net price$19,406Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$28,568

In-state: $11,221

Housing & food (on campus)$12,830

Books & supplies$1,020

Cost of attendance$44,749 est.

In-state: $27,402

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $19,406

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$13,178

$30–48k

$14,143

$48–75k

$15,369

$75–110k

$20,110

$110k+

$23,665

Your family's actual price → Kansas State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$4,455

Share of first-years who get one41%

Source: Kansas State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

71%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

49%

Back for yr 2

86%

Transferred

17%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

69% graduated · 21% transferred · 10% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$49,330

10 yrs after entry$57,262

Debt

Median at graduation$21,250

Monthly payment$225

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$27k

90th percentile$35,500

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

82%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1151

R 550–640 · M 510–620

SAT middle 50%: 1060–1260

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Kansas State University: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Kansas State University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Kansas State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 49%Women 51%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

19 : 1

Pell grant

21%

First-gen

22%

Family income

$67,000

Independent

14%

Veterans

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

79%

Hispanic

10%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Rowing
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$49,330

After 10 yrs

$57,262

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods221

Animal Sciences211

Finance and Financial Management Services173

Marketing159

Business Administration, Management and Operations153

Mechanical Engineering140

Nutrition Sciences138

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences135

Research and Experimental Psychology110

Computer and Information Sciences, General106

Biology, General90

Accounting and Related Services88

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services86

Agricultural Business and Management82

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services79

Air Transportation69

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$1.0B

Full-time faculty

90%

Faculty salary

$10,853/mo

Teaching spend

$12,603

per student

Federal loans

36%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$265M research spending · 214 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions