KU vs. UNCW

Should I go to University of Kansas or University of North Carolina at Wilmington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU or UNCW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU K-State UNCG NC State WCU UD University of North Carolina at Asheville ESU Auburn
University of Kansas vs. University of North Carolina at Wilmington comparison
University of Kansas University of North Carolina at Wilmington College 3 College 4
University of Kansas University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 KU UNCW
Location Lawrence, KS Wilmington, NC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 26,780 18,030
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #240 #361
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU UNCW
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $18,508
Room & Board $9,900 $11,346
Avg Net Price $20,054 $17,946
Avg Grant Aid $10,457 $6,579
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 67%

Admission

 KU UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,275 15,792
Admitted 14,129 10,736
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 68%
Enrolled % 29.2% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 24/28
SAT Range 1090/1330 1210/1330
Submit Test Scores Considered but not required Considered but not required
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 KU UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

 KU UNCW
Graduation Rate 61% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $211

Diversity

 KU UNCW
% Men 46% 34%
% Women 54% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 78%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 KU UNCW
% In-State 57% 82%
% Out-of-State 40% 17%

Campus

 KU UNCW
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (26,780 students vs. 18,030 students)

KU vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or UNCW?

  • University of Kansas is 127.1% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.7% higher at KU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($26,960.00 vs. $18,508.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than KU ($17,946 vs. $20,054)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 14.6% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($9,900 vs. $11,346)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (84% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 58.9% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($10,457 vs. $6,579)

KU vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KU or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or KU .

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 17 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming KU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than UNCW (68%)

KU vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or UNCW? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UNCW and KU.

  • The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than University of Kansas (67% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $9,900 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $44,700)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington and KU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($20,500 vs. $20,500)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington and KU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($211 vs. $211)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/