K-State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Kansas State University · Manhattan, Kansas · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 15,591
- Applicants
- 13,642
- Admitted88%
- 3,775
- Enrolled
- 28%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access88% admittedRanked #156 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #87 (tie), Business Programs #116 (tie), Computer Science #110 (tie), Economics #161 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Kansas State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is K-State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places K-State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
K-State is a public university in Manhattan, Kansas that admits about 88% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $19,406 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Animal Sciences, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Mechanical Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 71% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
K-State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. For the most recent reporting cycle, K-State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 88%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1140. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,406 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for K-State?
52% of enrolled students at K-State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare K-State with the other schools on your list
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What does K-State weight in admissions?
K-State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
1- Standardized test scores
Considered
4- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Work experience
Not Considered
12- Rigor of secondary school record
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores K-State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1040 |
| 50th percentile | 1140 |
| 75th percentile | 1260 |
| % submitting SAT | 7% |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | 24 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | 80% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for admission; some freshman scholarships and awards require ACT or SAT. Superscores accepted.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on K-State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 29% |
| Top 25% of class | 56% |
| Top 50% of class | 84% |
| % submitting class rank | 64% |
How much does K-State actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,221 for in-state students and $28,568 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,830 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,406 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 21% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $10,601 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,555 |
| Room and board | $11,520 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $19,406 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 79% |
| Average need-based grant | $8,106 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,404 first-year students received one | $4,455 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 47% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $25,718 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for K-State
| Reply deadline | No set date |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from K-State?
These predict outcomes at K-State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at K-State
The most popular undergraduate programs at K-State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Animal Sciences, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Mechanical Engineering. Across all programs, K-State confers roughly 1,432 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Animal Sciences program report a median income of about $51,573 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Sciences | 238 | $51,573 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 224 | $46,577 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 182 | $89,754 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 178 | $67,390 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 178 | $73,166 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 163 | n/a |
| Marketing | 141 | $72,115 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 128 | n/a |
Is K-State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), K-State disclosed 33 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 22 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at K-State?
About 28% of undergraduates at K-State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Kansas parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for K-State
Common questions parents ask about K-State
What GPA do I need for K-State?
52% of enrolled students at K-State had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does K-State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–27.
How much does K-State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at K-State after grants and scholarships is $19,406 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $11,221 and $28,568 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is K-State realistic for my child?
K-State admits 88% of applicants, so 510–620 SAT Math is target range and below 510 is a reach. Then check the $19,406 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at K-State?
K-State accepts about 88% of applicants out of roughly 15,591 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is K-State test-optional?
Yes. K-State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at K-State?
About 71% of students at K-State graduate within six years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does K-State look for in applicants?
K-State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is K-State a public or private school, and where is it located?
K-State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas.
What are the most popular majors at K-State?
The largest undergraduate majors at K-State by annual graduates are Animal Sciences, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Mechanical Engineering. The school awards about 1,432 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is K-State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
K-State reported 33 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at K-State?
At K-State, 28% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Kansas State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers