University of Kansas Ranking

Kansas, USA

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205

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#369

Rank(QS Top Universities)

Public

University Type

Latest Update:

Graduate Education Programs – U.S. News 2025: The KU School of Education & Human Sciences secured a

No. 8 ranking among public universities (No. 15 overall)
Special Education program ranked No. 1 among public institutions and No. 2 overall
Curriculum & Instruction rose to No. 26 overall (No. 18 among publics)

The University of Kansas is ranked #465 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, positioning it among the top two percent of universities worldwide. In the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, KU falls in the 351–400 band, reflecting its strong global research reputation.

According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 National University Rankings, KU is placed #152 among U.S. universities, and it is one of the top universities globally. Nestled in the heart of the American Midwest, KU makes an ideal choice to study in the USA.

University of Kansas Rankings 2025–26

Located primarily in Lawrence, the University of Kansas also operates branch campuses in Kansas City, Overland Park, Wichita, and Salina. Today, KU serves a strong community of approximately 29,792 students across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Here’s a summary of its recent performance across these agencies:

Ranking Agency	2024 Rank	2025 Rank	2026 Rank
QS World University Rankings (Global)	443	452	465
Times Higher Education (Global Band)	301–350	351–400	N/A
U.S. News & World Report (National Universities)	145	152	N/A

Here’s a graph of all the 3 years rankings:

According to the QS World University Rankings, it was placed at #443 in 2024, dropped to #452 in 2025, and further declined to #465 in 2026, indicating a consistent downward trend.

Similarly, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the university shifted from the 301–350 band in 2024 to the 351–400 band in 2025, with no data available for 2026.

On the national front, as per the U.S. News rankings the ranking moved from #145 in 2024 to #152 in 2025, with 2026 data not yet available. This overall pattern suggests a need for strategic improvements in areas such as academic output, research quality, and student performance to regain a stronger position in future evaluations.

Now that you've reviewed the University of Kansas' general ranking, let's look at how it performs in individual subjects.

Subject-Wise Ranking of the University of Kansas

Located primarily in Lawrence with key campuses in Kansas City, Overland Park, Wichita, and Salina, KU supports around 23,598 students and maintains a student-to-staff ratio of approximately 9.5:1 . The University of Kansas (KU) consistently demonstrates strong subject-specific performance across major global ranking agencies.

Here's a breakdown of KU’s subject-wise rankings from top global agencies:

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

The University of Kansas (KU) exhibits notable academic strengths across various disciplines in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. These rankings evaluate universities based on their academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, international faculty and student ratios, and citations per faculty member.

Below is a summary of KU’s subject-wise rankings for 2025:

Program Name	Ranking 2025
Psychology	301–350
Art & Design	601–650
Dentistry	601–650
Nursing	601–650
Philosophy	601–650
Education	601–650
Law	601–650

Now, let us explore the subject-wise rankings of the University of Kansas in the US News & World Report ranking.

US News Rankings 2025

The University of Kansas continues to gain recognition for its strong academic programs. The university also excels in graduate education, with its Education School tied at #15 nationally, its Business School at #72, and its Law School ranked #50 in U.S. News .

KU’s graduate specialties continue to achieve recognition in U.S. News:

Program Name	Ranking 2025
Biological Sciences	88
Biostatistics	52
Computer Science	88
Clinical & Health Sciences	251–300
Engineering	120 (tie)

Moving from the U.S. News rankings to the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, the University of Kansas continues to showcase its academic excellence across a wide range of fields.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025

The University of Kansas shows impressive strength in several disciplines according to THE subject rankings. These results reflect rigorous assessments of teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry engagement.

Below is a summary of KU’s performance in key subject areas for 2025:

Program Name	Ranking 2025
Education Studies	126–150
Psychology	176–200
Law	201–250
Arts & Humanities	251–300
Clinical and Health (Medicine, etc.)	251–300
Biological Sciences	301–400

These rankings highlight KU’s regional and global standing in education, psychology, and law. Now that you've seen how the University of Kansas performs by subject, let's examine its overall rankings from other reputable sources.

Miscellaneous Rankings 2025

In 2025, KU was ranked #152 among National Universities by U.S. News & World Report, highlighting its strong academic standing. Additionally, KU's commitment to social mobility was recognized with a ranking of #211 in the same report. These recognitions reflect KU's commitment to delivering high-quality education.

Below is a summary of KU's notable rankings in 2025:

Category	Ranking Agency	Rank 2025
National Universities	U.S. News & World Report	#152
Top Performers on Social Mobility	U.S. News & World Report	#211
Most Innovative National Universities	U.S. News & World Report	#54
Best Value Schools	U.S. News & World Report	#123
Best Undergraduate Teaching	U.S. News & World Report	#53
Best Colleges for Veterans	U.S. News & World Report	#97
Best Regional Universities in the Midwest	U.S. News & World Report	#152
Best Value Colleges	PayScale/Georgetown University	#3

Now, let us explore the University of Kansas’s academic, community, and cultural achievements that make it an excellent option to study in the USA for Indian students after the 12th grade.

University of Kansas: Excellence and Achievements

The University of Kansas (KU) is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, career readiness, and community engagement. In 2025, KU achieved a 66% six-year graduation rate, ranking it in the top 35% of institutions nationally. Additionally, KU possesses an impressive 85% first-year retention rate.

KU's dedication to providing quality education is further evidenced by its 94% employment rate for MBA graduates within six months of graduation.

Below is a breakdown of KU's recent achievements and recognitions:

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

In 2025, KU's School of Business and its accounting program retained their dual AACSB accreditation, a distinction held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. Additionally, KU's Environmental Law program is ranked #25 nationally, reflecting its strength in this specialized field.

Below is an overview of KU's notable academic recognitions:

Category	Recognition
Accounting Program	Dual AACSB accreditation in Business and Accounting
Environmental Law	Ranked #25 nationally by U.S. News & World Report
MBA Employment Rate	95% employed within three months of graduation
Online MBA Salary Increase	85% of alumni reported a salary increase post-graduation
Online MBA Average Salary	$125,044 average reported salary upon program completion

These accolades highlight KU's commitment to delivering high-quality education and promoting student success across diverse disciplines. Now, let us explore the community and lifestyle recognitions of the University of Kansas.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

In the 2025-2026 Military Friendly Schools survey, KU's Lawrence campus was ranked the No. 9 Military Friendly School, and the KU School of Medicine-Wichita campus was ranked No. 8 Military Friendly and No. 8 Military Spouse Friendly School.

Below are some of KU's key community development initiatives:

Category	Recognition
Mental Health Support	Partnered with The Jed Foundation's JED Campus program to enhance mental health and well-being resources
Student Engagement	Recognized for outstanding student leadership and involvement through various campus awards
Social Mobility	Ranked among the top universities nationally for promoting social mobility
Veteran Support	Designated as a top military-friendly school, offering strong support for military-affiliated students
Global Student Representation	Welcomes students from 116 countries, providing a diverse and inclusive campus community

After exploring the University of Kansas’ notable achievements, let's now compare its rankings with the acceptance rate to gain a clearer picture of its selectivity.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

The University of Kansas (KU) continues to showcase its commitment to cultural and creative excellence. In 2025, KU's Department of Theatre & Dance honored 30 students for their outstanding academic and performance achievements during the annual awards banquet.

Below are some highlights of KU's cultural and creative achievements:

Category	Recognition
Performing Arts	30 students honored for academic and performance excellence in Theatre & Dance
Athletics	Men's Basketball: 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance; Women's Soccer: Big 12 Conference Champions
Student Honors	95 students initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, recognizing high academic achievement
Alumni Events	Annual University Awards Ceremony recognizing 13 students for community engagement, leadership, and academics
Campus Media & Clubs	Over 100 active student clubs; award-winning student-run radio station KJHK

These recognitions reflect KU's strong campus culture and its commitment to nurturing creativity and excellence among its students.

Now, let's compare its rankings with the acceptance rate to gain a clearer picture of its selectivity.

University of Kansas: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

The University of Kansas (KU) maintains a high acceptance rate of 88%, making it broadly accessible, while still achieving strong program rankings, which showcase a balance of selectivity and academic quality.

This acceptance rate applies to all undergraduate admissions, while graduate and professional programs may have more selective entry criteria.

Here's how select KU programs compare in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings and overall acceptance:

Program	U.S. News Ranking 2025	Acceptance Rate
Nursing (BSN)	#17 among public universities; overall #53	88%
Business (Undergraduate)	#41 among public universities
Engineering (Computer Science)	#65 nationally (undergraduate Computer Science)
Psychology (Undergraduate)	#29 among public universities; overall #53
Law (J.D.)	U.S. News specialty – Environmental Law ranked #25	Graduate selectivity applies

Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used for QS World ranking universities.

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings evaluate institutions worldwide based on six key performance indicators, with a focus on academic reputation, research impact, and internationalization. QS has also added three new indicators - International Research Network, Employment Outcomes, and Sustainability - each contributing 5% to the overall score.

Below is a breakdown of the core methodology used by QS to assess global institutions:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Academic Performance	Academic Reputation	30%
Employer Reputation	Employer Review	15%
Research Impact	Citations per Faculty	20%
Faculty/Student Ratio	Teaching Commitment	10%
Internationalization	International Faculty & Students	10% (5% each)
Sustainability & Employment	Sustainability Score + Employment Outcomes	15% (5% + 10%)

Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used for THE World ranking universities.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

Times Higher Education (THE) assesses universities by examining teaching quality, research performance, and global engagement. In addition, graduation rate performance (10%) compares KU’s actual graduation outcomes against expected benchmarks, while peer assessment (20%) reflects KU’s reputation among academic leaders. 

Below are the key indicators used in THE's evaluation:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation	15%
	Staff-to-student ratio	4.5%
	Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio	2%
	Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio	5.5%
	Institutional income	2.5%
Research Environment	Research reputation	18%
	Research income	5.5%
	Research productivity	5.5%
Research Quality	Citation impact	15%
	Research strength	5%
	Research excellence	5%
	Research influence	5%
International Outlook	Proportion of international students	2.5%
	Proportion of international staff	2.5%
	International collaboration	2.5%
Industry	Industry income	2%
Industry	Patents	2%

Next, let’s examine how U.S. News and World Report structures its rankings and where the University of Kansas stands within its framework.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News evaluates universities on several key metrics to gauge their effectiveness in supporting student success. One critical measure is graduation performance, which accounts for 5.5% of the overall score, comparing the six-year bachelor’s graduation rates between KU’s recipients and non-recipients.

Here are the focus indicators and their weightage used in the 2025 rankings:

Focus Indicators	Weightage
Graduation Rates	16%
First-year retention rates	5%
Graduation rate performance	10%
Graduation rates	5.5%
Graduation performance	5.5%
College grads earn more than high school grads	5%
Borrower debt	5%
Peer assessment	20%
Financial resources	8%
Faculty salaries	8%
Full-time faculty	3%
Student-faculty ratio	4%
Standardized tests	5%

Next, let’s look into the overall summary.

Conclusion

The University of Kansas (KU) has maintained a stable and commendable performance across major global and national ranking bodies in 2025. According to U.S. News & World Report, KU is ranked #152 among National Universities, indicating a consistent commitment to academic excellence and student success.

The Times Higher Education ranks KU in the 351–400 global band, reflecting its balanced strengths in teaching, research, and international outlook. Meanwhile, the QS World University Rankings position KU at #452 globally, underlining its academic reputation and international research influence.

FAQs

What factors highlight the University of Kansas as a top public university in 2025?

KU achieved record‑high research expenditures of $546.1 million, indicating a 17% increase and supporting 5,595 jobs and earning prestigious AAU membership. It also holds strong program awards and community impact metrics.

How is the University of Kansas recognized for its academic environment?

KU is classified R1 ("Very high research activity") and belongs to the AAU, demonstrating strong academics. It offers over 345 degree programs, with competitive national rankings in fields like education (#20) and law (#46).

What makes KU a preferred choice for international students?

With strong global program rankings e.g., Art & Humanities (#198), Clinical Medicine (#236) and unique research opportunities via $546 M in R&D, KU appeals to international learners seeking excellence in diverse fields.

How is student satisfaction reflected in KU's latest evaluations?

Fall 2024 enrollment reached a record 30,770 students, including 5,323 freshmen, reflecting campus appeal. The Carnegie Community Engagement designation further signals high student satisfaction through meaningful academic-community involvement.

What achievements set KU apart in research and innovation?

KU ranked 1st among publics for education R&D and top‑3 in non‑science fields, social work, while cancer research is in the top 1% nationally. It also spun off 54 startups from university tech.

How does KU support experiential and hands-on learning?

KU Innovation Park supports 74 companies, creating 750 jobs and $49.8 M annual payroll. Federal funding ($22 M) supports new cybersecurity and engineering research hubs. Many programs report active invention disclosures (334 in 5 years).

What makes KU’s campus life appealing to students?

With record enrollment, strong community designations, and campus engagements, KU establishes lively learning. Over 345 programs, plus engaging research and mentorship, create a lively, hands‑on student experience.

How is KU contributing to community development and outreach?

KU research spending contributed $86.5 M across 91 Kansas counties in FY 2024. Its Carnegie Community Engagement status confirms extensive outreach through clinics, educational support, and regional economic development.

What recognitions has KU received for sustainability efforts?

KU hosts the NSF-funded EARTH sustainable refrigeration research center ($26 M award), DOE-backed battery research, and Kansas Biological Survey grants ($10.4 M), reflecting strong sustainability research commitment.

How is KU known for supporting first-generation college students?

KU’s expansion, record fall 2024 freshman enrollment, and community engagement classification highlight its inclusive efforts. First-generation programs benefit from strong mentorships, innovation funding, and research inclusion.

What outcomes do KU graduates typically achieve after completing their programs?

KU alumni generate $2.5 billion annually in Kansas, supporting 27,560 jobs. Graduates yield $5.70 (INR 488) return per tuition dollar, and bachelor’s holders earn on average $33,900 (INR 29L) more annually than high-school graduates.