Quad

Head-to-head

U. Kansas
U. Kentucky

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Kansas is more diverse (index 0.50 vs. 0.41)

    Diversity index
  2. 2

    U. Kansas costs about $5.6K less per year on average than U. Kentucky ($24,462 vs. $30,092, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  3. 3

    U. Kansas's yield is 3 pts higher than U. Kentucky's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    U. Kansas grads earn $2.9K more ten years out than U. Kentucky's ($61,945 vs. $59,025)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    U. Kentucky is a bit larger (24,763 vs. 21,217)

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    U. Kentucky has 2 pts more Pell recipients than U. Kansas (23% vs. 20%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

U. Kansas admits 93%, U. Kentucky 94%; U. Kansas's yield is higher, at 25%.

Acceptance rate
U. Kansas93%
U. Kentucky94%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. KansasAccessible
  • U. KentuckyOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
U. Kansas
1070–1300
U. Kentucky
1058–1270
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. KansasGPA required
  • U. KentuckyRigor and GPA very important45%

Who's on each campus

U. Kentucky is a bit larger than U. Kansas (24,763 vs. 21,217 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Kansas21.2K
U. Kentucky24.8K
Pell Grant share
U. Kansas20%
U. Kentucky23%

Majors and faculty

Psychology leads at U. Kansas, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse at U. Kentucky; both have 18 students per faculty member.

Students per faculty member
U. Kansas18 to 1
U. Kentucky18 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. KansasPsychology, General6%
  • U. KentuckyRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse7%

What each costs

U. Kansas costs about $5.6K less a year than U. Kentucky on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. Kansas$24.5K
U. Kentucky$30.1K
Aid generosity
U. Kansas30%
U. Kentucky29%

What each pays off

U. Kansas's former students earn more, a median $61.9K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Kansas$61.9K
U. Kentucky$59K
Graduation rate
U. Kansas66%
U. Kentucky68%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; U. Kentucky got less selective while U. Kansas held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. KansasGrowing+42%
  • U. KentuckyGrowing+52%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018;University of Kentucky (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;University of Kentucky Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why