Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Kansas #183 for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $69,680 four years after enrollment, placing University of Kansas in the 72.6 percentile for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Accounting #58 among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level strength with graduates earning median $84,736 four years after enrollment. University of Kansas graduates earn about $10,463 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 86.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Kansas #220 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Kansas #183 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lawrence, KS, University of Kansas enrolls roughly 21,217 undergraduates. Retention stands at 86.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.8%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a large research institution. What drives University of Kansas's composite position is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Kansas #220 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $69,680, and they earn about $10,463 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Kansas in the 86.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, anchoring a broad degree portfolio that channels graduates into Kansas's labor market and beyond. The composite is shaped by variation across pillars. Mobility sits in the 90.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, and affordability in the 61.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits in the 55.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions — University of Kansas admits about 93.5% of applicants, and 20.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants with 22.2% identifying as first-generation. For families weighing long-term financial outcomes against upfront cost, Azimuth's composite view of ROI contextualizes how these pillars interact.
The University of Kansas prices its degree across a clear income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $12,544 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $15,154, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $22,544. Azimuth ranks University of Kansas #555 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That position reflects the university's public-tuition structure and the reach of its need-based aid programs, which help close the gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay — a distinction worth understanding before comparing sticker prices across institutions, as the net price illusion analysis explains. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for qualifying students. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA. Aid packaging varies by household income and family circumstances, so families in each income band may pay somewhat more or less than the median figures shown. Students who borrow to attend typically graduate with federal loan debt around $21,000, which compares favorably with the peer median of $19,976 among comparable institutions. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,347; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,680, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Kansas is a public research university in Lawrence, KS, well suited for students drawn to Business, engineering, and applied professional fields who want a large flagship experience with strong long-term earnings potential. Graduates earn median $69,680 four years after enrollment, placing University of Kansas in the 72.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $10,463 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Kansas in the 86.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access is broad: 20.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.2% are first-generation students, with a completion rate for Pell-eligible students of 50.8% — a signal that University of Kansas supports cost-sensitive and first-generation students through to graduation. Median student debt at graduation is $21,000, a figure worth weighing against the earnings trajectory. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the university's program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes; and with an admission rate of 93.5%, University of Kansas is broadly accessible to most qualified applicants across KS and the Midwest.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Kansas hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Kansas prices its degree across a clear income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $12,544 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $15,154, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at around $22,544.
Azimuth ranks University of Kansas #555 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That position reflects the university's public-tuition structure and the reach of its need-based aid programs, which help close the gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay — a distinction worth understanding before comparing sticker prices across institutions, as the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) analysis explains.
Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for qualifying students. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA.
Aid packaging varies by household income and family circumstances, so families in each income band may pay somewhat more or less than the median figures shown. Students who borrow to attend typically graduate with federal loan debt around $21,000, which compares favorably with the peer median of $19,976 among comparable institutions.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,347; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,680, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Kansas earn median earnings of $48,200 four years after enrollment, placing University of Kansas in the 55th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $49,500 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn below expectations, placing the institution in the 45th percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to Kansas's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,000, the state median earnings of working adults aged 25 to 34 with only a high school credential.
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services is the dominant program family, accounting for 22% of degrees, followed by Health Professions and Related Programs at 12% and Engineering at 9%. Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration 1st nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $127,900 — 1.3x the national benchmark for the field.
Azimuth ranks Petroleum Engineering 3rd nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $91,800. Chemical Engineering and Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering also post competitive early-career median earnings of $75,200 and $73,100 respectively, while Mechanical Engineering graduates earn median earnings of $70,800 — reflecting the breadth of pathways available at University of Kansas.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Iowa Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4316 ranked) | IA | 84% | $64,762 | #4316 | Compare |
Lamar University Similar quality tier (#4321 ranked) | TX | 86% | $49,652 | #4321 | Compare |
Virginia Commonwealth University Similar quality tier (#4313 ranked) | VA | 93% | $58,128 | #4313 | Compare |
University Of Maryland-Baltimore County Similar quality tier (#4329 ranked) | MD | 72% | $69,960 | #4329 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina-Columbia Similar quality tier (#4331 ranked) | SC | 60% | $62,177 | #4331 | Compare |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
130 graduates
Computer Engineering
7 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
106 graduates
Petroleum Engineering
13 graduates
Chemical Engineering
62 graduates
University of Kansas's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 21% of degree output, followed by Engineering at 8% and Arts at 5%. That business-forward concentration shapes the institution's overall earnings profile — applied fields with direct workforce entry tend to drive stronger early-career pay.
Across 75 programs serving roughly 4,479 students annually, 43 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, and the strongest national positions cluster in business-adjacent and quantitative disciplines. Finance combines large cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a defining program for University of Kansas.
Among the largest programs, Psychology, General program graduates 281 students with median 4-year earnings of $55,329, and Azimuth ranks it #96 for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Journalism program graduates 217 students with median earnings of $62,394, while The Finance program graduates 209 students with median earnings of $86,453.
On the earnings side, Azimuth ranks Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration #1 for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 130 graduates earning $125,384. Artificial Intelligence ranks #94 among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $92,008, and Finance ranks #61 among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $86,453 — [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Several of University of Kansas's highest-earning programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly in business, accounting, and engineering-adjacent fields where employer demand remains strong. Programs like Nursing and Kinesiology, with cohorts of 196 and 193 respectively, represent fields where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory if a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national wage trends.
