<h2 id="section---IsTheUniversityOfKansasTheSchoolForYou"> Is the University of Kansas the School for You?</h2> <p>The main campus of the University of Kansas (KU) is located in a city of about 80,000 people. There are additional separate campuses for adult education, law enforcement training, medical and research programs. The university offers 136 undergraduate and 222 graduate degrees in the arts and sciences, social sciences, education, engineering, architecture and law. Compare the pros and cons below to see if KU is a good fit for you. </p> <h4 id="section---Pros"> Pros</h4> <ul><li><i>U.S. News &amp; World Report</i> ranked KU as the 51st top public school in the country </li><li>The acceptance rate is 29.2 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>Student debt after graduation is $4,546 lower than the national average </li><li>High number of academic programs </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons"> Cons</h4> <ul><li>Student-faculty ratio is higher than the national average </li><li>Graduation rate is eight percentage points lower than the national average for 4-year institutions </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis"> Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>In addition to its ranking as the 51st best public school, <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> ranked several of the university's graduate degree programs within the top ten, including special education, which held the #1 spot, as well as clinical psychology and paleontology. </p> <p>Your chances of getting into the school are high, considering the school's acceptance rate of 93%, per the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This is significantly higher than the national average of 63.8%. A majority of the students who begin classes at the University of Kansas are pleased with their choice to attend the university. Many remain after the completion of freshman year; the NCES reports a respectable retention rate of 80% for full-time students. </p> <p>You'll have ample variety in academic options with approximately 345 degree programs to choose from in 200 fields of study. Popular majors at the university include business, social sciences, communication and health professions. Graduates at KU have an average indebtedness of $22,114, according to <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report</i>, compared to the national average of $26,660. </p> <p>With the NCES reporting a 19:1 student-faculty ratio, University of Kansas has a slightly higher ratio than the national average of 16:1. The 4-year graduation rate also falls below the national average, with a 32% rate at KU and a 40% rate for 4-year institutions. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAid"> Getting In &amp; Financial Aid</h2> <p>Students need to submit an application, application fee, their high school transcript or GED scores, ACT or SAT scores and a list of courses taken senior year. Transfer students must submit their college transcripts as well. Students can apply online and track their application status, including when test scores were submitted and which transcripts have been received. The regular application deadline for high school students applying for admission as freshmen is April 1, 2013, and SAT or ACT scores must be received by the admissions office by May 1. </p> <p>To be considered for one of KU's scholarships, freshman and college transfers with at least a 3.25 GPA and strong standardized test scores may submit an application. Out-of-state students with grandparents or parents who are KU alumni may qualify for the Jayhawk Generations Scholarship, which pays for a portion of out-of-state tuition. The Midwest Student Exchange Program awards full tuition; students in Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin or North Dakota who declare a major in designated fields may apply. Students who are interested in financial aid fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if they qualify for federal, state and school aid. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> April 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Priority Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013-2014</i> </td><td> March 1**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $30*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2011)</i> </td><td> 93%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Tuition &amp; Fees (2012-2013)</i></td><td> $9,678 (in-state), $23,748 (out-of-state)*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Financial Aid Package (2011)</i> </td><td> $8,809***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2011)</i> </td><td> 55%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2011)</i> </td><td> $22,114***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 4.3%*</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---LifeAtTheUniversityOfKansas"> Life at the University of Kansas</h2> <p>The University of Kansas has a variety of on-campus living options, including traditional residence halls, scholarship halls with specific GPA and other requirements and apartments. There are over 600 student clubs to join. Additionally, students can join sororities and fraternities. There are also several different types of meal plans available to students, as well a variety of dining facilities, cafes, coffee shops, snack bars and a full-service restaurant. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Small city*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2011)</i> </td><td> 19,695 undergraduate students, 8,244 graduate students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i> </td><td> 50% to 50%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 90%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-State Students (Fall 2010)</i> </td><td> 68%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of International Students (Fall 2010)</i> </td><td> 6%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2010-2011)</i> </td><td> 80% full-time students, 80% part-time students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 22%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 12***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> Over 600 student clubs and organizations**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **University of Kansas, ***U.S. News &amp; World Report.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> KU Visitor Center, 1502 Iowa St., Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7576 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (785) 864-3911</li></ul>