“R1 public land-grant flagship in Manhattan, Kansas; the first public institution of higher learning in Kansas.”
Kansas State University, known as K-State, is a public land-grant research university founded in 1863 — making it one of the oldest land-grant institutions in the United States. Its main campus sits in Manhattan, Kansas, a classic Midwestern college town in the Flint Hills region of roughly 50,000 residents that consistently ranks among the most affordable and welcoming small cities in America. With about 20,000 students across nine colleges, K-State offers an unusually broad academic portfolio for a school its size, including the only veterinary medicine program in Kansas, a top-ranked College of Agriculture, and the highly regarded Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. K-State's academic identity is shaped by its land-grant mission and a serious commitment to applied research. Faculty and students work on globally relevant problems in food systems, animal health, biosecurity (the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, NBAF, is located on the edge of campus), grain science, water resources, and aerospace, including a leading professional pilot program at K-State Salina. The university has produced more Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, and Goldwater Scholars than nearly any peer public university — a track record that reflects strong undergraduate mentoring. Life on campus revolves around Wildcat traditions: Big 12 football and basketball at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and Bramlage Coliseum, the All-University Open House, and a friendly small-town community of more than 475 student organizations. K-State serves over 1,100 international students from more than 100 countries through its International Student and Scholar Services office, with strong faculty support, dedicated international scholarships, and one of the lowest costs of attendance among major U.S. flagship-style universities.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research Classification
Carnegie
Best Colleges in Kansas
Niche 2026
Best Professors in Kansas
Niche 2026
Land-Grant Heritage
Wikipedia
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourcePriority Deadline (Fall)
Priority for scholarships and housing
Regular Deadline (Fall)
Applications reviewed on rolling basis
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$11,221
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$28,568
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $28,568
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
