1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. University of Kansas Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # University of Kansas KS · Large public institution · Overall rank #183 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-kansas/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-kansas/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/university-of-kansas/similar/) ## [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) University of Kansas #183 nationally. ### Who it’s a good fit for The University of Kansas is a public university in Lawrence, Kansas, where Business, Health Professions, and Engineering lead the degree mix. Mobility is among the highest we track. Graduates out-earn what the model predicts for students like them. The model attributes an addition to the factors it measures—field of study, enrollment, and the local labor market—and a subtraction to what it cannot explain. Pell recipients complete at a rate below the overall cohort, and access is above average. The lowest income band pays well under the published cost, while the highest band pays closer to it. The admission rate is above the median for comparable institutions. Most graduates are estimated to go into work rather than further study, and the largest programs are not the highest-earning ones. ## University of Kansas at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 93.5% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 68.8% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $69,680 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $15,154 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $21,000 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $32,347 ## University of Kansas rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) The University of Kansas is a public university in Lawrence, Kansas, enrolling 21,217 undergraduates. Its composite standing is near the top of the Azimuth ranking (88th percentile), with mobility the strongest pillar and return close behind. The university admits 93.5% of applicants, a higher rate than the 78.1% median for comparable public universities of similar size. Of the first-time, full-time students who enroll, 86.5% return for a second year and 68.8% finish within six years. Both figures run above the peer medians—the midpoint for comparable public universities of similar size—of 83.1% and 65.0%. An estimated 19.5% of entrants arrive as transfers or part-time students, so a large part of the student body began their studies elsewhere. The four pillars are spread apart. Mobility is the strongest, while access is the weakest. Return and affordability sit between them, reflecting a gap between mobility outcomes and access measures. The University of Kansas performs strongest on mobility, where Azimuth places the pillar in the 90th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. That shows the scale at which graduates reach earnings that outpace their pre-college economic circumstances. The return pillar sits in the 85th percentile, while affordability and access land closer to the middle of nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 61st and 56th percentiles respectively. Access is the weakest pillar, though all four stand above the median nationally. For enrolled students who submitted scores, the middle 50% of SAT results fell between 1,070 and 1,300. The middle 50% of ACT results fell between 20 and 28. 20.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Azimuth ranks the university #649 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients complete at 50.8%, a rate that trails the figure for the entering cohort as a whole (68.8%) by 18.0 percentage points. Azimuth ranks the university #147 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students. Access is the weaker of the two pillars here, with mobility carrying the stronger rank. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) University of Kansas rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #183 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 90 **Access & reach** National percentile: 56 **[Affordability](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/)** National percentile: 61 **[Return on investment](/school/university-of-kansas/outcomes/)** National percentile: 85 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Behavioral Sciences**#1** 2. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration**#2** 3. Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology**#4** This school’s three highest-ranked programs nationally. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [Explore major rankings](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / University of Kansas briefing ## [University of Kansas cost & financial aid](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) University of Kansas publishes a cost of attendance of $26,751, which includes $12,102 in-state tuition and fees and $11,358 for room and board. Students from outside the state pay $30,432 in tuition and fees. Once grants and scholarships are applied, aid recipients pay an average of $18,059. That amount is $2,425 above the $15,634 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). The peer median is the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size). Aid reduces the sticker price by $8,692 on average. Aid covers about 32% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. Azimuth ranks the university #550 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The published cost of attendance at the University of Kansas is $26,751, with in-state tuition and fees of $12,102 and room and board at $11,358. For families earning under $30,000, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/)—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $12,544. For the middle band ($48,001–$75,000) it is $15,154, and for families earning over $110,000 it is $22,544. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $10,000. Azimuth ranks the university #550 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 32% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an average savings of $8,692 against the sticker price. The average net price across all aid recipients is $18,059, which sits above the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $2,425. Out-of-state students face a higher published tuition of $30,432, though individual aid packages can shift the final cost. Graduates who borrow federal loans leave with a median federal student debt of $21,000, and 89.4% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. That median is above the peer median of $20,076 by $924. For a graduate at the median four-year earnings, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $239 a month if repaid over ten years. Parents who borrow through [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) carry a separate median of $32,347. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$15,154** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at University of Kansas The University of Kansas combines a high borrowing rate with a median federal debt figure that sits close to the peer median. About 89.4% of federal aid recipients take federal loans, and among those who complete a degree, the median federal student debt is $21,000. That median is above the peer median of $20,076 at comparable institutions (same type and size) by $924. For a separate population of parent borrowers, the median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loan is $32,347. Graduates of the University of Kansas earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students, a result that places the university in the 82nd percentile nationally. The median earnings four years after completion reach $69,680, which is above the peer median of $65,610 at comparable institutions (same type and size) by $4,070. Earnings scenarios derived from the university's program mix show how earnings can differ: a typical scenario lands at $69,680, while a downside case falls to $51,954 and an upside case reaches $94,358. Borrowers who complete a degree carry a median federal debt of $21,000, which corresponds to an estimated payment of $239 a month if repaid over ten years. The earnings picture is strong: graduates beat the model's expectation and sit above the peer median, while the debt load is only slightly above the peer figure. Median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing, a separate parent-borrower population, is $32,347. The estimated monthly student payment if repaid over ten years is $239. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $21,000 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $32,347 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $239/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $411/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=university-of-kansas#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/university-of-kansas/cost/) 02 / University of Kansas briefing ## [University of Kansas career outcomes & earnings](/school/university-of-kansas/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) Graduates of the University of Kansas earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students, a result in the 82nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $11,350. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $1,718. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,496. Four years after completion, the median earnings of $69,680 sit above the peer median of $65,610 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $4,070. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 85th percentile nationally. The [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the gap above the peer median point the same way, showing that the university's return profile is a clear strength. University of Kansas graduates who received federal aid and are working and not enrolled post a median of $69,680 four years after completion. The observed earnings cohort includes 3,494 completers. That median sits at the 76th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students. The gap lands at the 82nd percentile. Earnings scenarios are estimates from the program mix, not observed percentiles or student groups. The earnings scenarios run from a downside of $51,954 to an upside of $94,358, with a typical outcome of $69,680. An estimated 29.9% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix. University of Kansas graduates earn a median of $69,680 four years after completion, placing the university in the 76th percentile nationally. That figure is $4,070 above the $65,610 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the university #221 for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students. That places the gap at the 82nd percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $11,350. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $1,718. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,496. The fields that account for the measured share are concentrated in business, health, and engineering, which together make up a large portion of degrees. Earnings scenarios, estimated from the program mix, range from $51,954 on the downside to $94,358 on the upside. An estimated 29.9% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix. Earnings vary substantially by program: the earnings scenarios range from $51,954 on the downside to $94,358 on the upside. These are scenarios estimated from the program mix, not observed groups of graduates. The upper end includes Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration at $125,384 four years after completion, Computer Engineering at $113,339, and Management Science at $107,635. Program choice therefore matters within the wider range. At University of Kansas, graduates earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students. The median federal student debt for borrowers who complete a degree is $21,000, which runs above the median of $20,076 for comparable institutions (same type and size). If repaid over ten years, that debt corresponds to an estimated monthly payment of $239. The average net price—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $18,059, which is above the peer median of $15,634. Parent PLUS borrowers, a separate population, carry a median of $32,347. Program-level medians range from $55,329 in Psychology to $125,384 in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, illustrating the earnings spread across fields. Above-expected earnings and a net price that runs above the peer median mean the return picture is mixed, and the outcome depends on the program a student chooses. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$11,350 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$1,718 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$9,632 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/university-of-kansas/outcomes/) 03 / University of Kansas briefing ## [University of Kansas acceptance rate & admissions](/school/university-of-kansas/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) The University of Kansas admits 93.5% of applicants, a rate that sits well above the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). Most students who apply are offered a place. SAT: approximate enrolled-student range **Admission rate** 93.5% **Approximate lower endpoint** 1070 **Reported average** 1190 **Approximate upper endpoint** 1300 Enrolled students who submitted scores. This range is not an admission cutoff. The endpoints add section percentiles; they are not verified composite-score percentiles. A separate SAT-equivalent average is not plotted as a median. Source: College Scorecard; sum of section 25th/75th percentiles; enrolled score-submitters. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/university-of-kansas/admissions/) 04 / University of Kansas briefing ## [What are the largest majors at University of Kansas?](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The University of Kansas offers 44 bachelor's programs with published four-year earnings, and [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) 40 of them nationally. The highest-earning program, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, shows a median of $125,384 four years after completion and ranks #2 in its field, with 130 degrees awarded. Finance reaches $86,453 and ranks #62 nationally on 209 degrees awarded. Nursing follows at $78,601 with 196 degrees awarded, while Psychology, the largest program by degrees awarded at 281, reports a median of $55,329 and an Azimuth national rank of #92. Journalism earns $62,394 and ranks #14 nationally, a strong showing for a moderate-earning field. The university publishes earnings data for 44 bachelor's programs, 40 of which hold an Azimuth national rank. Several programs sit at the very top of their fields. Behavioral Sciences is ranked #1 nationally and #1 in Kansas, and its completers earn a median of $58,883 four years after completion. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration ranks #2 nationally, awarded 130 degrees, and shows a median of $125,384. Among the largest programs, Psychology awarded 281 degrees and reports a median of $55,329. The highest-earning large program is Finance, which awarded 209 degrees, ranks #62 nationally, and shows a median of $86,453. At University of Kansas, Business accounts for 21.4% of bachelor's degrees awarded, with Health Professions next at 10.6% and Engineering at 7.5%. Azimuth assigns national ranks to 40 of its programs within their fields, and 44 fields carry published four-year earnings data. The largest programs by degrees awarded are Psychology at 281, Journalism at 217, and Finance at 209. Behavioral Sciences is the highest-ranked program on campus, with 58 degrees awarded and median earnings of $58,883 four years after completion. It holds a benchmark ratio of 1.21x against the national median for its field, and it ranks #1 in Kansas within its field. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration is the highest-earning program, with graduates earning $125,384 four years out from 130 degrees awarded annually. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #2 nationally and #1 in Kansas within its field. Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology also places in the top five. Azimuth ranks it #4 nationally and #1 in Kansas within its field, with 79 degrees awarded and median earnings of $81,568. Strength is spread across large departments and smaller specialized ones. The highest-ranked and highest-earning programs are not the largest, and several fields where graduates commonly pursue further study may show lower four-year earnings than longer-term trajectories would suggest. Across all fields, 19.1% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Psychology, General 281 degrees awarded** $55,329 **Journalism 217 degrees awarded** $62,394 **Finance and Financial Management Services 209 degrees awarded** $86,453 **Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 196 degrees awarded** $78,601 **Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness 193 degrees awarded** $62,876 **Marketing 178 degrees awarded** $70,404 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/university-of-kansas/majors/) 05 / University of Kansas briefing ## How does University of Kansas serve students from different backgrounds? Mobility is the University of Kansas's strongest pillar. Azimuth places the university in the 90th percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 68.8%, while Pell recipients complete at 50.8% — below the overall rate by 18.0 percentage points. Graduates earn about $9,632 more than the model expects for similar students, a result that sits in the 82nd percentile nationally. A high graduation rate alongside earnings that beat the model points to strong outcomes for students who reach the finish line. The University of Kansas is a broad-access public university that admits 93.5% of applicants, well above the peer median of 78.1% — the middle value for comparable institutions. It enrolls 21,217 undergraduates, with 20.5% receiving Pell Grants and an estimated 19.5% entering as transfers or part-time students. Azimuth places the access pillar in the 56th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. 06 / University of Kansas briefing ## [What colleges are similar to University of Kansas?](/school/university-of-kansas/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/university-of-kansas/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with University of Kansas. Admissions peerBenedictine College98.1% admitted+ Comparison with University of Kansas | Measure | University of Kansas | Benedictine College | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $69,680 | $55,405\-$14,275 vs University of Kansas | | Average annual net price | $18,059 | $27,891+$9,832 vs University of Kansas · higher cost | | Admission rate | 93.5% | 98.1% | Nearby alternativeKansas State UniversityNearby option · KS+ Comparison with University of Kansas | Measure | University of Kansas | Kansas State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $69,680 | $64,711\-$4,969 vs University of Kansas | | Average annual net price | $18,059 | $19,406+$1,347 vs University of Kansas · higher cost | | Admission rate | 93.5% | 81.7% | [Explore Kansas State University →](/school/kansas-state-university/) Higher-earnings alternativeGeorge Mason University$78,425 earnings+ Comparison with University of Kansas | Measure | University of Kansas | George Mason University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $69,680 | $78,425+$8,745 vs University of Kansas | | Average annual net price | $18,059 | $17,915\-$144 vs University of Kansas · lower cost | | Admission rate | 93.5% | 87.5% | [Explore George Mason University →](/school/george-mason-university/) Lower-cost alternativeUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City$13,310 average net price+ Comparison with University of Kansas | Measure | University of Kansas | University of Missouri-Kansas City | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $69,680 | $65,925\-$3,755 vs University of Kansas | | Average annual net price | $18,059 | $13,310\-$4,749 vs University of Kansas · lower cost | | Admission rate | 93.5% | 72.2% | [Explore University of Missouri-Kansas City →](/school/university-of-missouri-kansas-city/) Similar profileUniversity of IowaMatched across several measures+ Comparison with University of Kansas | Measure | University of Kansas | University of Iowa | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $69,680 | $69,866+$186 vs University of Kansas | | Average annual net price | $18,059 | $22,531+$4,472 vs University of Kansas · higher cost | | Admission rate | 93.5% | 83.6% | [Explore University of Iowa →](/school/university-of-iowa/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/university-of-kansas/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 27, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 27, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance uses the frozen 2024 framework baseline. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)