University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas · Public · 93.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Kansas (KU) is the flagship research university of the state of Kansas, located in Lawrence and enrolling about 21,217 students. With in-state tuition of $12,102 and a net price of $18,059, KU delivers research university scale at public flagship prices. Its overall ROI score of 76 (Strong Value) is grounded in solid fundamentals: a 37.3% earnings premium, a 7.9-year payback period, median debt of $21,000, and a 68.8% completion rate. Average six-year earnings of $45,100 rise to a median $61,945 at ten years, reflecting KU graduates' upward trajectory in healthcare, engineering, business, and energy sectors. KU's pharmacy program - producing $125,384 in four-year earnings with a 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio - is an outlier standout. Across the board, STEM and professional programs score well; fine arts, English, and anthropology push into negative ROI territory.
University of Kansas scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Kansas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,102/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,432/yr |
| Average net price | $18,059/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,236 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,945 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 21,217 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,102/year ($30,432/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,059/year, or roughly $72,236 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,544/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,544/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,000, which works out to about $223 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,100) and comes to 0.47, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,544 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,942 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,154 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,169 |
| $110,001+ | $22,544 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from households under $30,000 pay $12,544 net. Four-year investment approaches $50,000. With average six-year earnings of $45,100 and a 7.9-year payback, the financial math is workable for completers in high-demand programs. KU's 68.8% completion rate is a meaningful positive here - most low-income students who enter are finishing. Kansas Scholars and other state-based aid programs can further reduce costs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 - $75,000 band pays $15,154 net, with a four-year cost around $61,000. KU's research infrastructure, faculty quality, and career services justify the investment for students in pharmacy, engineering, business, or nursing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $22,544 net.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Kansas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $55,329 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $86,453 | B |
| Journalism | $62,394 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $62,876 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $78,601 | B+ |
| Marketing | $70,404 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $68,572 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $92,008 | B |
| International Relations | $61,839 | C |
| Accounting | $84,736 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is KU's top-performing program - 111 PharmD graduates project $125,384 at four years against $19,151 median debt, a 0.15 ratio and A grade. At in-state net price, pharmacy is an exceptional value. Prospective students should plan for the 4-year PharmD program atop 2 pre-pharmacy years and factor total program costs accordingly.
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Aerospace Engineering (51 graduates) earns $71,244 at one year and $92,335 at four, with a 0.35 ratio and B grade. KU aerospace graduates have a direct regional talent pipeline that amplifies the already-strong national ABET-accredited program credentials.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences (106 graduates) earns $62,993 at one year and $107,635 at four - a strong four-year trajectory reflecting quantitative business skills' premium in analytics and consulting markets. The 0.40 ratio earns a B grade. KU's School of Business offers a well-regarded analytics track, and the Kansas City metro provides abundant employer access for business analytics, supply chain, and operations management graduates.
Journalism
Graduates (203 reported) earn $43,191 at one year and $62,394 at four - respectable for a humanities-based profession. Ratio of 0.53 earns a C+ grade. The brand recognition of the KU J-school provides a credential advantage in media, PR, and content roles that pure earnings data understates.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (206 graduates - the second-largest business cohort) earns $57,884 at one year and $86,453 at four, with a 0.35 ratio and B grade. The Kansas City financial corridor - home to H&R Block, Waddell & Reed, and dozens of regional banks and insurance firms - provides strong placement. At KU's in-state net price, Finance delivers a genuinely competitive ROI.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Kansas’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-28 |
| Enrollment | 21,217 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,338 |
KU admits 93.5% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 530 - 650 (math) and 540 - 650 (reading); ACT 20 - 28. Honors program and selective college admissions (e.g., School of Engineering, School of Business) have separate thresholds. Applying by priority deadlines improves scholarship consideration.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas (this school) | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| California State University-Fresno | 81 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | 80 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | 78 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| Fort Hays State University | 52 | $12,569 | $48,928 |
| Emporia State University | 44 | $16,261 | $47,601 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Kansas side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
KU suits students seeking a large research university experience in the Midwest at a competitive in-state price. Engineering, business, and journalism students benefit from established professional networks in Kansas City, Wichita, and the energy sector. Students who thrive in large lecture environments and can leverage KU's research and internship infrastructure get the most from the flagship brand. Liberal arts students should enter with graduate school plans, as most humanities programs show modest undergraduate earnings.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Kansas pays off. You'd pay about $18,059 a year after aid ($72,236 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,945 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $21,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Kansas: Common Questions
Is University of Kansas worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Kansas pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,059 a year after aid ($72,236 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,945 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.9 years to earn back.
How much does University of Kansas cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,059 a year, or roughly $72,236 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Kansas graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,945 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,145 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Kansas?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.9 years for University of Kansas. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Kansas graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,000, against average earnings of $45,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Kansas?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.