Match #1
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate90%
- 9,733 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 53%, close to 48%
- Acceptance rate 90%, close to 89%
The colleges most similar to Pittsburg State University are Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University, and Washburn University. Pittsburg State University admits 89% of applicants and has an average net price of $14,291 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 6 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 Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg State University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Emporia State University
Emporia, KS
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate98%
- 2,239 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Average net price $14,364, close to $14,291
- Acceptance rate 98%, close to 89%
Match #3
Washburn University
Topeka, KS
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate—
- 4,562 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 52%, close to 48%
- Enrollment 4,562 students, close to 4,210
Match #4
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate94%
- 10,780 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 52%, close to 48%
- Acceptance rate 94%, close to 89%
Match #5
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
Profile closeness54/100
Admit rate82%
- 15,142 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Acceptance rate 82%, close to 89%
- Same control type (public)
Match #6
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Profile closeness50/100
Admit rate93%
- 21,217 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Acceptance rate 93%, close to 89%
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO
Profile closeness94/100
Admit rate86%
- 4,378 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 52%, close to 48%
- Enrollment 4,378 students, close to 4,210
Match #8
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Weatherford, OK
Profile closeness93/100
Admit rate94%
- 3,514 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 46%, close to 48%
- Enrollment 3,514 students, close to 4,210
Match #9
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Profile closeness88/100
Admit rate86%
- 5,598 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 49%, close to 48%
- Enrollment 5,598 students, close to 4,210
Match #10
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK
Profile closeness85/100
Admit rate100%
- 4,772 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 4,772 students, close to 4,210
- Average net price $12,424, close to $14,291
Questions about Pittsburg State University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Pittsburg State University?
The closest matches to Pittsburg State University are Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University, Washburn University, Wichita State University, and Kansas State University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Pittsburg State University hard to get into?
Pittsburg State University admitted 89% of its 2,216 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 6 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Pittsburg State University alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Pittsburg State University ($14,291 a year), including Wichita State University ($10,307), Washburn University ($11,023), and Northeastern State University ($12,424). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
