Kansas State University
A land-grant research university in Manhattan, Kansas, test-optional and with no English test for most programs.
- Acceptance rate
- 82%
- Fall 2024 entering class (IPEDS College Navigator)
- Students
- 21,213
- 16,555 undergraduates
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $31,446
- 2026-27
About K-State
Kansas State University was founded in Manhattan in 1863 as the state's land-grant college, and its flagship campus is still there and was the first public institution of higher learning in the state. It is classified R1 (very high research activity) and offers academics through nine colleges: Agriculture; Architecture, Planning and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business Administration; Education; Engineering; Health and Human Sciences; Technology and Aviation; and Veterinary Medicine. It also runs campuses in Salina and Olathe and an online arm.
In fall 2025 K-State enrolled 21,213 students, 16,555 of them undergraduates, and in fall 2024 about 71 percent of first-time undergraduates came from Kansas. The application process is straightforward: it is test-optional, applicants can use either K-State's own application or the Common App, and international applicants need a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale and no English test for most programs. The College of Architecture, Planning and Design does require English proficiency.
About 82 percent of fall 2024 applicants were admitted. K-State suits students who want a big-state-school experience in a college town, with agriculture, engineering, aviation and veterinary medicine among its most distinctive fields, and who can benefit from meaningful in-state pricing if they qualify as Kansas residents.
Why students choose K-State
K-State is test-optional, though some scholarships and awards for freshmen require an ACT or SAT received by April 1 of senior year.
Submitting the application triggers an automatic review for general university scholarships, with a March 1 priority date for competitive scholarships.
The Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Technology and Aviation in Salina give applied paths beyond a general arts and sciences degree.
K-State reports that 96 percent of graduates were employed or continuing their education (K-State Career Services, 2025).
Admissions
Fall 2024 entering class (IPEDS College Navigator)
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
K-State does not post a Common Data Set on its public website that we could find, so admissions figures are from IPEDS via College Navigator: 15,509 applicants and 82 percent admitted in fall 2024 (80 percent of men, 83 percent of women).
Typical entry requirements
| High school curriculum | Accredited secondary school curriculum with a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for international freshmen |
|---|---|
| Recommended pre-college curriculum | 4 years English, 4 mathematics, 3 science, 3 social studies and 2 of one foreign language |
| English language | Proof of English proficiency is not required for admission to most K-State undergraduate degree programs; admission is based on academic qualifications. The College of Architecture, Planning and Design requires English proficiency, and ACT or SAT scores are strongly encouraged there. K-State's separate English Language Program (ELP) serves non-native speakers who want to study English. |
Deadlines
- Admission and scholarship priority date Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Priority date for admission and scholarship consideration; there is no early decision plan.
- Competitive scholarship priority date Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
Apply by this date for full consideration for scholarships that need a supplemental application. ACT or SAT scores for scholarship review must be received by April 1.
K-State's incoming-freshman guide lists December 1 and March 1 as priority dates without a year; they are shown here for fall 2027 entry. The guide does not list a final application deadline.
How to apply
Apply with K-State's online application (about 30 minutes) or the Common App. International applicants apply the same way and submit transcripts, then follow the admitted international checklist. Submitting the application automatically triggers a review for general university scholarships.
What admissions looks for
- A challenging high school curriculum that mirrors the Kansas Scholars Curriculum: 4 years of English, 4 of mathematics, 3 of science, 3 of social studies and 2 of one foreign language.
- Academic performance measured by GPA (minimum 2.5 for international freshmen) and, if you submit them, ACT or SAT scores.
- Additional program requirements: the College of Architecture, Planning and Design requires English proficiency.
Tips for applying to K-State
- 1 Apply by December 1 to be on time for admission and scholarship priority.
- 2 Submit test scores if you can: admission does not need them, but some scholarships and awards for freshmen do.
- 3 K-State superscores the ACT and SAT and no longer requires the ACT Science section, so retaking a single section can help.
- 4 If you are considering architecture, plan an English proficiency test and consider sending ACT or SAT scores.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Kansas State University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
K-State's cost of attendance for a non-Kansas resident living on campus is $48,952 for 2026-27, including $4,290 for books, transportation and personal costs. Submitting the application triggers an automatic review for general university scholarships, and competitive scholarships require supplemental applications by March 1. K-State's public admissions pages describe no need-based aid for international students, so check the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
- 95%
- First-time full-time undergraduates receiving any aid, 2023-24 (IPEDS)
- 92% (average $9,270)
- Grant or scholarship aid to first-time full-time undergraduates, 2023-24 (IPEDS)
- $20,527
- Average net price for aided Kansas-resident beginners, 2023-24 (IPEDS)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Engineering
Renamed the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering in 2018 after alumnus Carl Ice, the former BNSF Railway CEO.
Agriculture and Food Systems
K-State is a land-grant university opened in 1863, and says it builds economic growth in all 105 Kansas counties.
Veterinary Medicine
K-State has a College of Veterinary Medicine among its nine colleges.
Aviation and Technology (Salina)
The College of Technology and Aviation is on the Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus.
Architecture, Planning and Design
The one college whose undergraduate programs K-State lists with an English-proficiency requirement, with ACT or SAT strongly encouraged.
Business Administration
One of K-State's nine colleges; transfer applicants are recommended a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Research
- K-State is classified R1 (very high research activity) by Carnegie.
- $225 million in extramural research funding in 2023, according to K-State's stats page.
- The Olathe Innovation Campus focuses on graduate work in bioenergy, animal health, plant science and food safety and security.
Schools & faculties
- College of Agriculture
- College of Architecture, Planning and Design
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education
- Carl R. Ice College of Engineering
- College of Health and Human Sciences
- College of Technology and Aviation (Salina)
- College of Veterinary Medicine
K-State Career Services reports 96 percent of graduates employed or continuing their education (2025).
Student life
K-State is the main institution in Manhattan, Kansas, and student life revolves around campus. First-year students are required to live on campus. The university counts more than 400 student groups, and Wildcat athletics in the Big 12 Conference are a big part of the culture, along with the Wildcat Victory fight song and Willie the Wildcat mascot. K-State reports more than 100 countries represented on campus and 2,000-plus international students, scholars and faculty.
- More than 400 student groups, including international student groups.
- Wildcats compete in the Big 12 Conference; the mascot is Willie the Wildcat.
- Study abroad through K-State's Education Abroad office.
- K-State reports more than 100 countries represented on campus and 2,000-plus international students, scholars and faculty.
Housing. First-year students are required to live on campus; on-campus housing ranges from $6,110 to $10,190 and meal plans from $4,790 to $5,610 a year.
Location
Manhattan, Kansas, sits in the Flint Hills about 50 miles west of Topeka on the Kansas River, and K-State's flagship campus has been there since 1863. The university also has campuses in Salina (College of Technology and Aviation) and Olathe (Olathe Innovation Campus, graduate work). College Navigator describes the setting as a small city, so expect a college-town feel centred on the campus.
Nearest airport: Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK)
Notable alumni
- SB Sam BrownbackFormer U.S. Senator and Governor of Kansas; degree in agricultural economics (1978)
- CI Carl IceFormer president and CEO of BNSF Railway; bachelor's in industrial engineering
- LC Leanne CaretFormer president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security; bachelor's in business administration
- DP Devon PritchardPresident and chief operating officer of Nintendo of America; bachelor's in biological sciences
- WA William A. PorterCo-founder of E-Trade; M.S. in physics from Kansas State
- GJ Gordon JumpActor best known for WKRP in Cincinnati; studied broadcasting at Kansas State after transferring (degree not confirmed)
- CM Claude McKayHarlem Renaissance poet; studied briefly at Kansas State Agricultural College (non-degree study)
Frequently asked questions
What is Kansas State University's acceptance rate?
In fall 2024, 15,509 students applied and 82 percent were admitted, according to IPEDS College Navigator.
Does K-State require the SAT or ACT?
No, K-State is test-optional, though some scholarships and awards for freshmen may require an ACT or SAT. Scores for scholarship review should arrive by April 1.
What is K-State's application deadline?
December 1 is the priority date for admission and scholarship consideration, with March 1 as the priority date for competitive scholarships that need supplemental applications. K-State lists both without a year.
Do international students need an English test for K-State?
Not for most undergraduate degree programs; admission is based on academic qualifications. The College of Architecture, Planning and Design requires English proficiency.
How much does K-State cost for international students?
For 2026-27, non-Kansas residents pay an estimated $31,446 in tuition and fees, and K-State's estimated total cost of attendance for a non-Kansas resident living on campus is $48,952.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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