KU | University of Kansas | Best College

Quick Stats

1502 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66045-7576: [map]

Phone: (785) 864-2700

2010-2011 Tuition

$8,732: in-state

$21,539: out-of-state

Students

20,343: enrolled

51%: male /

49%: female

Admissions

Apr. 1: application deadline

92.5%: accepted

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank	Category Name
#101	National Universities

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Summary

University of Kansas is a public institution that was founded in 1866. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,343, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Kansas's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 101. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,732 (2010-11); out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,539 (2010-11).

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

The University of Kansas is a major public comprehensive research and teaching university. KU offers the highest-quality academic programs (130 undergraduate and 220 masters, doctorate, and professional degree programs.) The academic programs are supported by 12 libraries and several museums including art and natural history. Top ranked programs in public administration and special education provide outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic opportunities. Excellent programs in law, medicine, pharmacy, and other fields prepare students for professional careers. More than 100 international study and cooperative research programs are available. Service opportunities throughout the university involve students with the community. The student population is 14% minority and comes from all 50 states and many foreign countries. The university provides a full range of student services, on-campus housing, and many part-time employment opportunities.

General Information

School type	public, coed college
Year founded	1866
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	urban
2010 Endowment	$1,070,813,435

Applying

When applying to University of Kansas, it's important to note the application deadline is April 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due May 1. The application fee at University of Kansas is $30. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 92.5 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	93%
Application deadline	April 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	May 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of Kansas is 20:1, and the school has 41.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Kansas include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; and Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 79.0 percent.

Class sizes

Student-faculty ratio

20:1

4-year graduation rate

32% - Medium

Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services	13%
Health Professions and Related Programs	11%
Social Sciences	10%
Visual and Performing Arts	8%
Engineering	7%

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Student Life

University of Kansas has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,343, with a gender distribution of 50.8 percent male students and 49.2 percent female students. 22.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 78.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Kansas is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at University of Kansas.

Total enrollment	28,697
Student gender distribution

Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity

Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority

Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

University of Kansas offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Kansas also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Kansas, 50 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at University of Kansas.

Students who have cars on campus	50% - Medium
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At University of Kansas, 44.9 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,351.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees	$8,732 (2010-11)
Out-of-state tuition and fees	$21,539 (2010-11)
Room and board	$7,404 (2010-11) - Medium
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

The best thing about KU would have to be the atmosphere. Everyone comes together for sporting events, football and men's basketball, specifically. We have some of the best traditions that have been going on since the university was established. I can't really think of anything I would want to change at the university. The greeks are an overwhelming population, so I guess I would like to see the university advertise more ways to get involved than just by joining a sorority or fraternity. I believe KU is the right size for me, but an opinion on the size of a school depends on the individual. When I tell people that I go to KU, most react by saying I went to the "wrong" school. In other words, everyone from my hometown are huge KSU fans...and I chose to be different. Otherwise, a lot of people think that it's cool that I chose to go somewhere most of my high school classmates didn't go. Most of my time on campus is in a library. Being a pre-pharmacy student requires a lot of studying! Lawrence is a great college town. The best are the Lawrence residents, who support KU and the college students and have the same spirit we do for KU. The biggest recent controversy on campus would be gay pride week. Fred Phelps decided to show his presence. Most do not like Fred Phelps anyways, but he of course caused controversy with his radical ideals. KU has A LOT of school pride. How can you go to such a great college without having pride in it...especially after winning the Orange Bowl and NCAA championship within one year?! I love walking into classrooms and seeing the wave of blue, red, and white KU t-shirts. It just reminds me of how much school pride and spirit all of us have. I have had many experiences I will always remember. I will remember Mass St. each time after each big NCAA basketball game. I will remember my experiences going to basketball games in Allen Fieldhouse and the traditions we have there. I will remember the football games in Memorial Stadium, the band playing Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and many other things having to do with KU football. I will remember having the "famous" athletes in some of my classes. I will remember the first time I came to KU, when I fell in love with the campus, the great views from the hill, and the red rooftops. The most frequent student complaints are usually about Lew Perkins stealing all our money and parking. Parking is probably the most complained about. The scholarship halls have minimal parking for how many students live in them, the dorms can in no way support how many residents they have, and parking at the recreation center isn't that great, either. But parking definitely should not deter any decision of attending KU!

Katie Sophomore

KU has a beautiful campus. The architecture is amazing--the red roofs make for a wonderful view from the top of the hill. The landscaping is lovely--the trees in the fall turn vibrant colors. The steep hills and tall trees often surprise students from the "flat" areas of Kansas. KU has many renowned programs and students excel academically. KU can be a great choice for people who like large classes and for people who prefer smaller classes; both large lectures and small honors sections, large dorms and small scholarship halls are available. Lawrence is a fabulous college town. It's an amazing community; it offers many opportunities for attending concerts (both classical and rock), volunteering, and expanding one's interests artistically and academically; it has an awesome downtown scene--you can shop to support local businesses or just have fun on Mass Street. KU has many excellent staff members and professors famous for their work in their fields. There is a LOT of school pride, demonstrated after we became basketball champions! The only big complaints I hear are about the ridiculously strict parking rules and the difficulty of working with the bureaucracy.

Amanda Sophomore

When I tell people I go to KU, they either say "Oh! okay!" and start telling me about their sibling/offspring/parent/second cousin once removed who goes/went here. If they're K-State fans, it's more of a sigh of resignation. If you ever question KU's overall school pride, go to a home football or men's basketball game. Even if you go to an away game, there's always huge turnout, lots of noise. Alumni come to visit and go to games all the time. There's no question of our school pride. When I got here I was kind of apathetic about it all, the cheers were weird, etc. But if you're surrounded by people who "get" the KU pride thing, then you really get into it quickly. Coolest experience? Seeing Sasha Kaun all over the engineering building. As an engineering student, I think it's awesome that he can maintain a tough schedule while playing basketball. And he's tall. Student complaints... well, the dining hall food does get a little old after a while. Mrs. E's is great, but sometimes, you just want something else... and then there are plenty of places to eat off campus that are cheap and cater to the poor, destitute college student. Still, Thanksgiving dinner at the dining hall is pretty good. If I could change a few things, I might make the engineering building a little prettier, not quite so brickish. KU is great size wise for me. It's huge, but it's really easy to make friends because of it. At the same time, once you get going in your major, you keep seeing the same people over and over again, especially if you're in a professional school. Those people are your support system, so be nice to them. I spend a ton of time in Anschutz library. My freshman year, I took a fairly heavy courseload, so I need that time and space to finish all my work. The strange thing is, more than half the people I know I met in Anschutz. We're all library junkies, so it work out for us. It's weird, but we take a certain amount of pride in it.

Surya Sophomore

More student reviews

* Overview details based on 2010 data

University of Kansas

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Summary

General Information

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