Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Lawrence, Kansas
88.2% Acceptance Rate
University of Kansas — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
88.2%Acceptance Rate
3.66Avg GPA
1186Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$25,215Annual Cost
$61,945Grad Salary
19.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
88.2%
Avg GPA
3.66
Avg SAT
1186
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1290
ACT Middle 50%
21–27
Avg Net Price
$17,365
Need-Based Aid
19.5% receive Pell
University of Kansas is a premier public research university known for its top-tier programs in engineering, nursing, and the liberal arts. Admissions are competitive, focusing on the strength of a student's high school curriculum and their academic performance in core subjects. The university actively recruits students who demonstrate high intellectual potential and who are ready to contribute to its robust research and academic culture.
For prospective students, the best strategy is to emphasize high academic rigor, such as rigorous honors or IB coursework, and a documented history of extracurricular achievement. The University of Kansas values leaders who can balance academic work with active campus participation. A strong application includes evidence of initiative whether through research, leadership, or community projects that clearly signals a student's readiness for a large, dynamic, and research-focused university environment.
University of Kansas Acceptance Rate
University of Kansas (KU) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 88.2% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 88.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.21
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Kansas Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of Kansas follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
KU reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Freshman scholarship deadline: 2026/12/01; FAFSA priority: 2027/02/01 (University of Kansas Admissions)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
KU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at KU is 3.66. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.36 and 3.66? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.86–4.06.KU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.26 – 3.45
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.25
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Kansas Qualified Admissions: automatic admission via a 3.0 GPA + 24 ACT/1090 SAT, OR a 3.25 GPA + 21 ACT/980 SAT combination; students meeting neither go to individual committee review (coursework rigor, grade trend, context)
- SELF Engineering Leadership Fellows Program and the University Honors Program are separate applications with different essay prompts, deadlines, and interview processes - both "honors" labels at KU, but not interchangeable
- University Honors Program requires no minimum GPA or test scores for admission; decision is based on short-answer questions, a 500-word essay, and holistic record review
- Several professional programs (e.g., pharmacy, exercise science) require completing specified coursework with a maintained GPA before a separate secondary program application is even possible
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at KU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Kansas's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Kansas (KU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if KU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into KU Without SAT or ACT?
KU considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Kansas Average SAT Score: 1186
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Kansas is 1186 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1186 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Kansas allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1050, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at KU. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 520 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 530 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1186 | 1050 | 1290 |
Below 1050, you're behind most admitted students; at 1290 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into University of Kansas (KU) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of KU's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of Kansas (KU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at KU is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 18 | 27 |
| ACT English | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 27 |
Can I get into University of Kansas with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of KU's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at KU.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for KU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into KU isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Run the Qualified Admissions math precisely - KU offers two distinct GPA/test combos, not one
KU's automatic-admission standard requires either a 3.0 GPA combined with a 24 ACT (1090 SAT) or a 3.25 GPA combined with a 21 ACT (980 SAT) - two genuinely different paths to the same outcome. A student strong in GPA but weaker on testing, or vice versa, should check both combinations rather than assuming they fall short because they don't meet one specific number; students who meet neither still go to committee review weighing coursework rigor, grade trend, and other context.
If targeting the SELF Engineering Leadership Fellows Program, treat it as a fully separate process from the University Honors Program - even though both are "honors" at KU
SELF (housed in the School of Engineering) and the University Honors Program do not share essay prompts, and a student applying to both must write distinct responses and meet separate deadlines (SELF's essay is capped at 500 words and evaluated specifically for leadership potential and engineering/tech connection; both require an on-campus interview round). Don't let a student assume one strong "honors essay" covers both applications - it won't.
Know that KU's University Honors Program drops GPA and test scores from admission entirely
Unlike SELF or many peer honors colleges, KU's University Honors Program states explicitly that no test scores or minimum GPA are required - admission rests on short-answer responses and a 500-word essay (chosen from specific prompts, several drawing on Kansas figures like William Allen White or Amelia Earhart) plus a holistic read of the academic record. A student with an unconventional transcript but strong intellectual engagement has a real shot here that a GPA-gated program wouldn't offer.
For a student with a specific career track (pharmacy, nursing, exercise science), ask about the program-specific secondary application early
Several KU professional programs require students to complete designated gen-ed coursework first, maintain a specific GPA through those courses, and then file a separate electronic program application (sometimes with its own essay, letters of recommendation, and interview) - this is distinct from, and well after, general KU admission. A student set on one of these tracks should map out the secondary application's course-completion requirements from their first semester, not assume general admission settles their path into the program.
Expert Insight:
Acceptance-rate figures for KU cited across sources swing from roughly 88% to 93%+ depending on the year and aggregator - a wide enough range that quoting a single number risks misleading a family either toward overconfidence or unnecessary anxiety. The more reliable, checkable number is the Qualified Admissions GPA/test threshold itself, not a blended acceptance percentage from a third-party site.
KU Profile
Full Name
University of Kansas (KU)
City
Lawrence
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
66045
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a KU Degree Worth It?
KU offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $70,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.5%.
How much does a degree from KU Cost?
The sticker price is $25,215/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $17,365.
19.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 37.4% take federal loans at KU. File your FAFSA early and list KU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a KU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $61,945. That's about 53% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Kansas. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Kansas. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Kansas. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at KU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About KU Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Kansas run about $61,945 a year.
At about $25,215 a year, University of Kansas is on the more affordable end.
University of Kansas's Pell Grant rate of 19.5% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 88.2%, University of Kansas's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Kansas average a 3.66 GPA.
University of Kansas doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.36 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.26, University of Kansas becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Kansas — aim above 1186, ideally within the 1050–1290 range admitted students typically fall in.
University of Kansas follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The application fee is 40. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Freshman scholarship deadline: 2026/12/01; FAFSA priority: 2027/02/01 (University of Kansas Admissions). Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.