Match #1
University of Arkansas Main Campus
Fayetteville, AR
Profile closeness89/100
Admit rate74%
- 28,677 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 71%, close to 71%
- Average net price $17,571, close to $18,210
The colleges most similar to Kansas State University are University of Arkansas Main Campus, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LSU, and The University of Alabama Main Campus. Kansas State University admits 82% of applicants and has an average net price of $18,210 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 3 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Kansas State University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Kansas State University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LSU
Baton Rouge, LA
Profile closeness85/100
Admit rate73%
- 30,594 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 68%, close to 71%
- Average net price $19,286, close to $18,210
Match #3
The University of Alabama Main Campus
Tuscaloosa, AL
Profile closeness85/100
Admit rate77%
- 33,227 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 74%, close to 71%
- Acceptance rate 77%, close to 82%
Match #4
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Main Campus
Knoxville, TN
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate42%
- 30,418 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 74%, close to 71%
- Average net price $18,314, close to $18,210
Match #5
University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus
Columbia, SC
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate60%
- 29,820 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 79%, close to 71%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #6
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate97%
- 7,944 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Profile closeness66/100
Admit rate38%
- 23,300 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same Carnegie classification
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO
Profile closeness39/100
Admit rate14%
- 4,114 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Profile closeness90/100
Admit rate93%
- 21,217 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 70%, close to 71%
- Enrollment 21,217 students, close to 15,142
Match #10
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate89%
- 36,177 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Average net price $16,660, close to $18,210
- Acceptance rate 89%, close to 82%
Questions about Kansas State University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Kansas State University?
The closest matches to Kansas State University are University of Arkansas Main Campus, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LSU, The University of Alabama Main Campus, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Main Campus, and University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Kansas State University hard to get into?
Kansas State University admitted 82% of its 9,822 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 3 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Kansas State University alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Kansas State University ($18,210 a year), including University of Wyoming ($13,647), Texas State University ($16,660), and University of Arkansas Main Campus ($17,571). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
