University of Kansas vs. University of Missouri
KU or Mizzou splits less on academics than on which Saturday you want and which door you walk through. Lawrence hands you a hilltop campus crowned by Fraser Hall, and on winter nights the whole town files into Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas basketball runs closer to religion than sport. Drive east to Columbia and the rhythm changes to SEC football, tailgates on Francis Quadrangle under the Columns, and the Missouri School of Journalism, the first in the world and still the name that pulls journalism kids across state lines. The two schools fought the Border War for over a century, one of the oldest rivalries west of the Mississippi, until Missouri left for the SEC and Kansas stayed in the Big 12, and now they meet far less often. Both keep an open-ish door and read your grades hardest, so neither asks you to agonize over getting in. Mizzou runs a little larger and a little pricier; KU admits almost everyone and charges out-of-state students the same flat rate they charge a kid from Topeka. Picture where you'd want to spend a home football weekend, because that instinct will tell you more than any ranking.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Kansas does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Kansas is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Kansas's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 53% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Kansas does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Kansas weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Kansas's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $18,330 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Mizzou does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Mizzou is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Mizzou's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 41.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Mizzou does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Mizzou weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Mizzou's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,272 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Kansas vs. Mizzou: frequently asked questions
Is KU or Mizzou harder to get into?＋
Mizzou is the tighter admit, though neither runs selective. Missouri admitted about 78.5% of applicants in its most recent cycle, while Kansas took roughly 93.5%. KU guarantees admission to any student with a 3.25 high school GPA and weighs grades as its one very important factor; Mizzou rates GPA, class rank, and test scores all as very important and reviews applicants more holistically. Strong grades clear the bar at either flagship.
Is Kansas or Missouri better for journalism?＋
Mizzou carries the deeper journalism pedigree. It founded the world's first journalism school in 1908, and communication and journalism accounts for about 10% of its bachelor's degrees, a top-three field. At KU, journalism and communication runs about 8% of degrees through the William Allen White School. Both flagships graduate sizable journalism cohorts, but the field sits more central to Mizzou's identity.
Is KU or Mizzou cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
KU costs less from out of state. Kansas charges out-of-state students about $30,432 in tuition and required fees, versus $37,820 at Mizzou. Aid runs close: KU meets roughly 81% of demonstrated need with an average package near $19,700, while Mizzou meets about 71% with an average package near $20,421. Both award automatic merit scholarships to non-residents, so compare your specific offers before deciding.
Is Kansas or Missouri bigger?＋
Mizzou enrolls more undergraduates, about 24,449 to KU's 22,085. The gap stays modest, and both run as large public flagships where lecture halls fill and nobody chases you down in a crowd that size. Missouri houses 94% of first-years on campus against KU's 75%, so the first-year experience feels more residential in Columbia.
What does each school report for test scores, and do they require the SAT or ACT?＋
Both stay test-optional, and Mizzou's enrolled scores sit higher. Among submitters, Missouri's middle 50% scored 1150–1330 on the SAT and 23–30 on the ACT, while Kansas posted 1090–1280 on the SAT and 20–28 on the ACT. Most enrolled students at both flagships submit the ACT rather than the SAT. At KU, a score of at least ACT 21 or SAT 1060 can unlock assured admission for applicants whose GPA falls below 3.25.
Is KU or Mizzou better for business?＋
Business leads the degrees at both, almost evenly. Business and marketing accounts for about 20% of bachelor's degrees at KU and roughly 19% at Mizzou, the most-conferred field on each campus. After business, KU's next-largest areas run health professions and engineering, while Mizzou's run health professions and journalism. The two flagships graduate comparable shares of business majors, so this field won't separate them.
Source: University of Kansas Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Kansas. Banner photo by Gen. Quon, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).
Source: University of Missouri Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Mizzou. Banner photo by VoyagerMU, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).