University of Kansas (KU) vs University of Central Florida (UCF)
Nestled in the heartland of America, the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) stand as beacons of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. KU, a public research university, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to UCF, a public metropolitan research university. KU's student body is predominantly White, while UCF's is more diverse, reflecting the vibrant tapestry of Central Florida. In terms of popular majors, KU excels in fields like journalism and law, while UCF shines in engineering and business. Dive into the comparison table below to explore these differences in greater detail and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() University of Central Florida |
![]() University of Kansas |
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Overview |
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Location | Orlando, Florida | Lawrence, Kansas |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 92.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.4% | 92.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
|
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 1170 - 1350 | 1090 - 1330 |
ACT range | 25 - 30 | 21 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 73.0% | 12.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 27.0% | 80.0% |
Total number of applicants | 48,929 | 15,275 |
Total number of admissions given out | 17,797 | 14,129 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 7,090 | 4,119 |
Yield rate | 39.8% | 29.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$24,036
Out of state:
$40,135
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In state:
$25,259
Out of state:
$42,127
|
Average net price | $11,575 | $18,608 |
Tuition |
In state:
$4,478
Out of state:
$19,810
|
In state:
$10,092
Out of state:
$26,960
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,670
Meal plan:
$4,360
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Room/dormitory:
$6,100
Meal plan:
$3,800
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
90.0%
Average amount $10,078 |
80.0%
Average amount $10,408 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
20.0%
Average amount $5,240 |
40.0%
Average amount $5,220 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $14,272 |
6.0%
Average amount $13,036 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
59,996
Men 45.0% Women 55.0% |
19,158
Men 46.8% Women 53.2% |
Graduate students |
10,314
Men 40.3% Women 59.7% |
7,622
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 8.5% | 41.5% |
International students | 4.5% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 8,182 | 5,235 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Florida Georgia New Jersey Pennsylvania New York | Kansas Missouri Illinois Texas Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 30:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 74.9% | 66.0% |
Dropout rate | 9.8% | 7.8% |
Transferred out | 12.0% | 24.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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