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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $26,751 |
| Tuition and Fees | $30,432 |
| Room and Board | $11,358 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,224 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$8,692 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $18,059 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,544 |
| $30–48k | $12,942 |
| $48–75k | $15,154 |
| $75–110k | $19,169 |
| $110k+ | $22,544 |
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.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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.
