K-State vs. WSU

Deciding between Kansas State University and Wayne State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kansas State University
Wayne State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • K-State Remote Town
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • K-State 20,295
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • K-State #510
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • K-State -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • K-State Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • K-State
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • K-State $11,221
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • K-State $28,568
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • K-State $12,830
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • K-State $20,527
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • K-State $9,270
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • K-State 92%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • K-State 15,509
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • K-State 12,669
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • K-State 81.7%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • K-State 27.5%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • K-State 1160
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • K-State 23
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • K-State 3.77
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • K-State A-
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • K-State Average
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • K-State
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • K-State 20/27
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • K-State Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • K-State
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • K-State 19:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • K-State 56%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • K-State $49,700
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • K-State 70%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • K-State $22,500
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • K-State $232
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • K-State 46%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • K-State 54%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • K-State Low
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • K-State No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • K-State 78%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • K-State 1%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • K-State 4%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • K-State 7%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • K-State 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • K-State 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • K-State 3%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • K-State 6%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • K-State 1%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • K-State 71%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • K-State 28%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • K-State Yes
  • WSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • K-State No
  • WSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • K-State Yes
  • WSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • K-State Yes
  • WSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • K-State Yes
  • WSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS with Wayne State University in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State University is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kansas State University 19:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

K-State vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, K-State or WSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than K-State ($14,416 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 10% lower than at Wayne State University ($12,830 vs. $14,252).
  • Wayne State University is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $3,969 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at WSU than at Kansas State University (about $3,469 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at Kansas State University (98% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 39.7% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($12,953 vs. $9,270).

K-State vs. WSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, K-State or WSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSU and K-State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wayne State University (1170) is 10 points higher than at K-State (1160).
  • Incoming WSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at K-State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 1060/1260; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kansas State University 20/27; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: K-State - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than WSU (81.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.5% at K-State vs. 22.4% at WSU.

K-State vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for K-State and WSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kansas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than K-State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $49,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $242 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($22,258 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($230 vs. $232).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.