Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas. 15,142 undergraduates. Admits 82% of applicants.

Kansas colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
71%Graduation rate17 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$18,210Average net price per year8% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$61,473Median earnings 10 years after starting4% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,200Median debt at graduation11% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,200) equals 31% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($61,473).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$12,650
$30,000–$48,000$11,613
$48,001–$75,000$13,499
$75,001–$110,000$19,307
Over $110,000$23,192

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $11,579 in-state, $29,533 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate71%54%
Return for second year86%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$54,234$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$61,473$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,200$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

250 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering22$82,849$116,505—
Computer and Information Sciences, General101$77,074$111,152$19,593
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician61$76,364$97,952$25,500
Industrial Engineering48$76,806$97,941$11,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering35$85,457$97,509$25,747
Architectural Engineering33$76,714$97,428$25,314
Air Transportation87$68,020$95,937$20,500
Management Information Systems and Services34$64,298$95,601$19,399
Food Science and Technology32$68,015$94,245$25,000
Chemical Engineering36$79,877$93,726$13,000
Mechanical Engineering130$76,470$93,245$21,466
Accounting and Related Services76$61,163$87,942$20,375
Agricultural and Food Products Processing27$87,336$86,993$16,862
Civil Engineering33$76,680$86,559$19,214
Agricultural Mechanization11—$85,824—
Agricultural Engineering25$73,043$85,383$22,420
Finance and Financial Management Services169$57,056$84,022$18,197
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General27—$83,387$25,807
Natural Sciences52$40,805$75,900$19,527
Business/Commerce, General50$50,959$75,548$27,000
Marketing159$52,091$74,444$21,500
Design and Applied Arts—$53,446$70,647—
Agricultural Business and Management91$56,866$70,535$17,110
Business Administration, Management and Operations158$55,422$70,459$20,500
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations52$69,731—$19,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research5—$69,177—
Economics18$50,396$67,559—
Political Science and Government25$39,380$64,645$23,250
Agricultural Public Services24$46,167$63,563$12,900
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions32—$62,827$23,125
Biology, General94$32,358$62,591$19,750
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations29$44,035$62,553$19,944
Plant Sciences56$48,690$62,507$20,500
Gerontology——$60,213—
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences155$34,906$60,070$20,875
Communication and Media Studies22$41,471$58,811$16,600
Nutrition Sciences138$40,506$58,535$27,189
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services39—$57,826$19,500
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services69$45,520$57,798$29,045
Journalism54$44,562$56,988$22,500
Apparel and Textiles26$46,253$56,489$21,835
Research and Experimental Psychology91$37,868$56,349$19,031
Animal Sciences171$42,495$55,870$19,500
History15—$55,099$22,875
Social Work39$40,623$55,056$18,675
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services25—$54,186$22,624
Sociology31$38,635$54,143$25,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management23$40,348$52,511$18,875
Hospitality Administration/Management21$49,408$51,477—
International/Globalization Studies——$50,790—
Social Sciences, General50$47,165$50,399$31,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services81$39,896$48,347$23,008
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods222$44,776$47,962$19,500
Zoology/Animal Biology26$32,056$47,467$22,155
English Language and Literature, General23—$45,120$18,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas40$46,209$44,869$20,500
Fine and Studio Arts25$35,636$44,471$26,402
Anthropology11$19,282$42,682—
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other11$42,158——
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft12—$40,108—
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs19———
Real Estate Development3———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies4———
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication1———
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management7———
Education, General30——$23,000
Biomedical/Medical Engineering10———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering8———
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General12———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities5———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology14———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology18———
Mathematics20——$18,375
Statistics8———
Design for Human Health29———
Philosophy8———
Physical Sciences, General1———
Chemistry9———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences6———
Physics11———
Criminology1———
Geography and Cartography6———
Music10———
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions5———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

82%Admission rate
1,151Average SAT of admitted students
20–27ACT middle 50%
19:1Students per faculty member
24%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Kansas

University of KansasLawrence · net price $20,004 · grad rate 70%Newman UniversityWichita · net price $17,430 · grad rate 53%Kansas Christian CollegeOverland Park · net price $19,753 · grad rate 54%Barclay CollegeHaviland · net price $15,864 · grad rate 56%Fort Hays State UniversityHays · net price $16,333 · grad rate 53%Emporia State UniversityEmporia · net price $14,364 · grad rate 57%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Kansas State University cost per year?
The average net price at Kansas State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $18,210 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Kansas State University graduates earn?
Former Kansas State University students earn a median of $61,473 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Kansas State University?
71% of Kansas State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Kansas State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Kansas State University is $19,200. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.