University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass) vs K-State

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Amherst, Massachusetts, and Manhattan, Kansas, home to the esteemed University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass) and Kansas State University (KSU), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique identities. UMass, with its acceptance rate of 69%, welcomes a diverse student body, while KSU's acceptance rate of 84% reflects its commitment to accessibility. Explore the nuances of each institution, from their popular majors in engineering, business, and agriculture to their vibrant student life and supportive academic environments. Delve into the comparison table to uncover the details that will guide your decision toward the university that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Kansas State University logo

Kansas State University

University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Overview

Location Manhattan, Kansas Amherst, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
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 86.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 95.6% 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A 1250 - 1460
ACT range N/A 28 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0%
Total number of applicants 9,822 42,540
Total number of admissions given out 9,391 27,877
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,848 4,872
Yield rate 30.3% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,866

Out of state: $39,937
In state: $32,434

Out of state: $52,959
Average net price $19,874 $17,291
Tuition
In state: $9,489

Out of state: $25,560
In state: $15,791

Out of state: $36,316
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,200

Meal plan: $4,900
Room/dormitory: $7,611

Meal plan: $5,984
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

88.0%
Average amount $6,774
86.0%
Average amount $10,662
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,095
39.0%
Average amount $5,123
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $14,579
7.0%
Average amount $15,924

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 15,619
Men 50.3% Women 49.7%
24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 4,610
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 21.8% N/A
International students 5.4% 11.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 5,696 13,582
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Kansas Missouri Texas Nebraska Colorado New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Engineering
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.4% 83.7%
Dropout rate 9.3% 5.1%
Transferred out 20.4% 10.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Food Science and Technology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,367
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $83,284
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,831
  • Year 2: $71,734
  • Year 3: $83,247
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,832
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $82,805
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,780
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $81,885
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,427
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $80,450
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,948
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $79,928
Architectural Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,390
  • Year 2: $65,557
  • Year 3: $75,955
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,670
  • Year 2: $65,131
  • Year 3: $73,437
Agricultural and Food Products Processing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,969
  • Year 2: $63,749
  • Year 3: $69,822
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,353
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $65,198
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,236
  • Year 2: $99,741
  • Year 3: $118,959
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,497
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $105,578
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,216
  • Year 2: $78,232
  • Year 3: $95,030
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,683
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $94,055
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,391
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $79,970
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $79,007
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,222
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,607
  • Year 2: $68,647
  • Year 3: $74,913
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,719
  • Year 2: $65,594
  • Year 3: $74,578
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,571
  • Year 2: $63,646
  • Year 3: $73,746

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