Washington State University (WSU) vs K-State

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Pullman, Washington, and Manhattan, Kansas, home to Washington State University (WSU) and Kansas State University (KSU), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and a rich history, they offer distinct experiences. WSU boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while KSU maintains a slightly higher graduation rate. Explore their contrasting popular majors, from WSU's strength in engineering and KSU's focus on agriculture, to uncover the ideal academic fit for your aspirations. Delve into the comprehensive comparison table to discover further distinctions, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique goals and preferences.
Kansas State University logo

Kansas State University

Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Overview

Location Manhattan, Kansas Pullman, Washington
Campus setting City: Small Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 95.6% 85.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 9,822 18,197
Total number of admissions given out 9,391 15,607
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,848 4,007
Yield rate 30.3% 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,866

Out of state: $39,937
In state: $28,767

Out of state: $44,083
Average net price $19,874 $11,877
Tuition
In state: $9,489

Out of state: $25,560
In state: $10,457

Out of state: $25,773
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,200

Meal plan: $4,900
Room/dormitory: $7,400

Meal plan: $4,350
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

88.0%
Average amount $6,774
86.0%
Average amount $9,993
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,095
27.0%
Average amount $5,042
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $14,579
3.0%
Average amount $15,454

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 15,619
Men 50.3% Women 49.7%
24,278
Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
Graduate students 4,610
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
5,565
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 21.8% 15.2%
International students 5.4% 5.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 5,696 7,043
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Kansas Missouri Texas Nebraska Colorado Washington California Oregon Idaho Hawaii

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.4% 59.5%
Dropout rate 9.3% 38.1%
Transferred out 20.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Food Science and Technology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,367
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $83,284
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,831
  • Year 2: $71,734
  • Year 3: $83,247
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,832
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $82,805
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,780
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $81,885
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,427
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $80,450
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,948
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $79,928
Architectural Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,390
  • Year 2: $65,557
  • Year 3: $75,955
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,670
  • Year 2: $65,131
  • Year 3: $73,437
Agricultural and Food Products Processing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,969
  • Year 2: $63,749
  • Year 3: $69,822
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,353
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $65,198
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $143,888
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,911
  • Year 2: $123,178
  • Year 3: $127,531
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,080
  • Year 2: $100,915
  • Year 3: $120,737
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,957
  • Year 2: $112,073
  • Year 3: $119,910
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,275
  • Year 2: $105,813
  • Year 3: $117,478
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,971
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $96,760
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,468
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $88,746
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,693
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $81,535
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,112
  • Year 2: $68,808
  • Year 3: $80,939
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,531
  • Year 2: $72,881
  • Year 3: $79,650

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