Kansas University: Graduate Student Population Insights

The University of Kansas is a public research university located in Douglas County, Kansas. The university has a total enrollment of approximately 26,744 students, of which 5,377 are graduate students. The graduate student population comprises 55% women and 45% men. The University of Kansas offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, with degrees awarded in fields such as General Psychology, General Finance, and Registered Nursing.

Total student population

The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university located in Douglas County, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and has a semester-based academic calendar. The university's ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #152.

As of 2022, KU had a total student population of 26,708, including both undergraduate and graduate students. The university's student population comprises 16,439 undergraduates and 5,377 graduate students. The full-time enrollment at KU is 22,306, and the part-time enrollment is 4,402. This means that approximately 83.5% of students enrolled at KU are full-time students.

The gender breakdown of the undergraduate population at KU is relatively balanced, with 53% women and 47% men. Similarly, the graduate student population also exhibits a slight majority of women, with approximately 55% female and 45% male students.

In terms of racial and ethnic diversity, the student population at KU is predominantly White (66.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.9%), Asian (5.99%), Two or More Races (5.18%), Black or African American (4.41%), American Indian or Alaska Native (0.528%), and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (0.0711%).

The University of Kansas has experienced fluctuations in its student population over the years. In 2023, the total undergraduate enrollment was reported to be 20,696, indicating a change from the previous year's total student population. The university's acceptance rate has also varied, with an 87.8% acceptance rate in 2022, which was lower than the 92.5% acceptance rate in 2021.

Graduate student gender ratio

The University of Kansas (KU) has a total enrollment of 26,744 students, with 16,439 undergraduates and 5,377 graduate students. KU has a below-average overall diversity, including below-average male/female diversity.

KU's graduate student population is 55% women and 45% men. This is a slightly more even split than the gender breakdown for all students, which is 56.9% women and 43.1% men.

KU's graduate programs are most commonly attended by White Females (33.4%), followed by White Males (23.7%), and then Hispanic or Latino Females (3.89%).

KU's undergraduate population is slightly more balanced in terms of gender, with 53% women and 47% men.

In 2022, KU's enrollment numbers increased by 8.2% from the previous year, welcoming its largest freshman class since 2008.

Undergraduate student population

The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university located in Lawrence, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and has a semester-based academic calendar. The university's campus size is 1,000 acres.

In terms of undergraduate student population, KU had a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,439 students as of 2024. Of these, 53% were women, and 47% were men. The gender breakdown for full-time undergraduates was similar, with 53% women and 47% men. The undergraduate student population includes first-time freshmen, transfer students, and military-affiliated students. In 2024, KU welcomed 5,323 first-time freshmen, of whom 67.9% brought at least one hour of prior college credit, and 1,117 new transfer students, with an average of 40 hours transferred to KU. The university also has a significant military-affiliated student population, with 1,713 undergraduate students, accounting for 7.9% of the undergraduate student body.

KU's undergraduate student population is diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. The university has a below-average racial and ethnic diversity compared to other colleges, with the majority of undergraduate students being White (66.7%). Other racial and ethnic groups represented in the undergraduate population include Hispanic or Latino (8.9%), Asian (5.99%), Two or More Races (5.18%), Black or African American (4.41%), American Indian or Alaska Native (0.528%), and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (0.0711%).

The undergraduate student body also has a high geographic diversity, with students from 46 states and international students from 106 countries. In terms of age diversity, KU has a slightly lower percentage of traditional college-age students (between the ages of 18-21) compared to the national average. At KU, 52.45% of students fall into the traditional college-age category, while the national average is 60%.

KU's undergraduate programs offer a range of majors and concentrations. The most common Bachelor's Degree concentrations in 2022 were General Psychology (281 degrees awarded), General Finance (209 degrees), and Registered Nursing (196 degrees). Other specialized majors at KU include Language & Linguistics, Public Administration and Social Service, Parks, Recreation, & Leisure, Math & Statistics, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Student retention rate

The University of Kansas (KU) is a higher education institution located in Douglas County, Kansas. In 2022, the university had a total enrollment of 26,708 students, with 22,306 full-time students and 4,402 part-time students. The student retention rate at KU is impressive, with 85% of full-time undergraduates returning for their second year, higher than the average rate of 84% at similar Doctoral Universities.

KU's freshman retention rate is also above the national average, with 86% of first-time, full-time students making it past their freshman year. The nationwide average for first to second-year retention is 70.57%, while the average for colleges and universities in Kansas is 65.77%. This indicates that KU has a higher retention rate than its peers, which can be attributed to various factors such as academic support, student engagement, and campus environment.

The university's enrollment has been on a positive trajectory, with the fall 2022 freshman class being the second-largest in school history. The freshman class of 4,457 students reflected an increase of 8.2% from fall 2021, showcasing the university's ability to attract and retain students. The diverse and academically talented student body at KU contributes to its vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment.

KU's graduation rates provide further insight into student retention and completion. The official graduation rate is 62%, which refers to the percentage of students who complete their degrees within 150% of the published time, typically six years for a standard bachelor's degree program. The four-year graduation rate is 41%, and the eight-year graduation rate is 64%. These rates are comparable to or higher than the national averages for graduation rates at similar institutions.

In summary, KU's student retention and graduation rates demonstrate its ability to attract and retain students. The university's rates are favourable when compared to national averages and similar institutions, indicating that students are more likely to continue their studies at KU and complete their degrees within a reasonable timeframe. The positive retention and graduation rates contribute to KU's reputation as a leading public research university.

Student graduation rate

The University of Kansas has seen a slight decrease in its overall student population, with a decline in graduate students in particular. However, the university has achieved notable success in key measures of student success, including retention and graduation rates.

The one-year retention rate for full-time undergraduates at the University of Kansas is 85%, and the four-year graduation rate is 49.8%. The six-year graduation rate is 66.5%, which is the second consecutive all-time high for the university. This means that 46% of students graduate within 100% of the normal time, and 63% graduate within 150% of the normal time.

The University of Kansas's graduation rate is influenced by various factors, including its deliberate efforts to elevate its reputation, recruit top students, and provide them with the necessary support. The university has implemented strategies such as revamping its financial aid offerings, pursuing a national recruitment model, launching a new curriculum, and strengthening academic advising. These strategies have contributed to the university's success in retaining and graduating students.

The graduation rate also varies across different demographics. For example, the graduation rate for male and Asian students is 81%, the highest among all demographic groups. The graduation rate for Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander students is 100%, while for American Indian or Alaska Native students, it is 35.71%. The graduation rate for Black (Non-Hispanic) students is 48.35%, and for students with Two or More Races, it is 59.05%.

Additionally, the University of Kansas's retention and graduation rates compare favourably to similar colleges. The university's retention rate of 85% is around the average rate for similar colleges, while its graduation rate of 67% is slightly lower than the average of 71.52% for public research universities with very high research activity.

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