K-State: the complete school report for parents

What does K-State actually weigh in admissions?

K-State rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 12 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is K-State's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

52% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.86 on a 4 scale, reported for 86.54% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

K-State admitted 70.2% of 2,961 transfer applicants, against 87.5% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

K-State offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.

What does my child need to take in high school?

K-State requires 16 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.

What will K-State actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $19,406 a year at K-State after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $10,601. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 79% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 1,404 merit awards averaging $4,455 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

What families at each income level actually paid:

47% of K-State graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $25,718 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $225 a month in repayment. K-State’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from K-State pay off?

Graduates earn a median $57,262 ten years after entering, and $49,330 at six years. 81% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 68% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:

A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.

$105,727 to $44,784, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at K-State:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

86% of first-years return for a second year. 71% within six (Fall 2019 cohort).

How big are the classes?

45% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 4% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, and 90% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

What is life at K-State like?

16,555 undergraduates, 22% of first-years from out of state. 81% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 28% across all undergraduates. 22% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $59,909.

What this means for your student

• 52% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.86. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Its highest-earning major returns $105,727 five years out against $44,784 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about K-State

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