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Wichita State University

#303 in US ranking Wichita, KS
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Wichita State University award
Wichita State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$19,966
Tuition & fees
$9,948
Avg. aid
$7,537
Receiving aid
92%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
94%
SAT range
905–1240
ACT range
17–25

Outcomes

Graduation rate
51%
Median salary
$47,707
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Wichita State University?

Wichita State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation reviews the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual degree program.

Eligible students at an institution with recognized accreditation may qualify for federal financial aid, subject to federal and program rules. Accreditation can also matter when another college evaluates transfer credit, but it does not require that college to accept every course. Students entering a licensed profession should make a separate check of their exact program. Fields such as engineering, business, nursing, and teacher preparation may involve specialized accreditation, state approval, or both, and the requirements that matter depend on the degree and the state where a graduate intends to practice.

What are the admission requirements at Wichita State University?

First-year applicants generally apply to Wichita State with a completed application and a high school transcript or qualifying equivalent. Admission is not automatic: the university reviews academic preparation, and individual programs may impose additional standards after or alongside university admission.

Applicants should be ready to document their secondary-school coursework and grades. Wichita State considers test scores but does not generally require an SAT or ACT score for every applicant; scores may still be useful for a particular admission route, scholarship, or placement decision. Recommendations are not a general admission requirement. International applicants must also meet applicable English-proficiency and immigration-document requirements, which differ from the domestic first-year process.

In the reported first-year admissions cohort, Wichita State admitted about 94% of applicants. That describes one group of applicants, not an individual's probability of admission to a selective major. Because entry terms and program deadlines can differ, applicants should use the deadline for their intended term and program rather than relying on a single university-wide date.

What are the application fees and waivers at Wichita State University?

The reported standard application fee is $40. Applicants should verify the fee shown for their own application type before submitting, since domestic, international, graduate, and program-specific applications may use different processes or charges.

An application fee is separate from tuition, housing charges, and any later enrollment expenses. A student who needs a waiver should request one through the admissions process before paying and confirm the documentation or eligibility rules for that application. Paying first should not be assumed to create a refundable fee.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Wichita State University?

Army ROTC is available through a unit on Wichita State's campus. The program provides a route for eligible students to take military-science coursework while pursuing a university degree and, if they meet commissioning requirements, prepare for service as Army officers.

Taking an introductory ROTC course and accepting an ROTC scholarship are not necessarily the same commitment. Scholarship terms, medical and fitness standards, citizenship rules, and eventual service obligations depend on a student's status and contract. Applicants interested in another military branch should confirm whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement exists rather than assuming that an Army unit also offers Air Force or Navy ROTC.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Wichita State University?

Wichita State accepts transfer applications and generally considers college credit from other accredited institutions. Transfer students can enter in fall, spring, or summer, subject to the requirements and availability of their intended program.

Applicants should submit transcripts from every college attended, even if they do not expect all courses to count toward a Wichita State degree. Students with limited college coursework may also need to satisfy first-year admission requirements. Admission to the university is a separate decision from whether a course transfers, satisfies a general-education requirement, or applies to a major; competitive and professionally regulated programs may set additional GPA, prerequisite, or application rules.

Wichita State also considers some credit earned through AP examinations, CLEP, DSST, and other approved prior-learning routes. Before committing to a transfer plan, students should use the university's transfer-equivalency resources and seek an official evaluation tied to their intended degree. That evaluation is especially important for prerequisites and upper-division requirements, where a transferable elective may not replace the course a major requires.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Wichita State University?

Wichita State students can explore study abroad through the university's international education advising and approved overseas programs. Options may include short-term or faculty-led travel, longer study periods, and programs arranged with partner or outside providers; availability depends on the term and destination.

The key academic question is how overseas courses will apply to a Wichita State degree. Students should obtain approval for proposed coursework before departure, particularly if they need a major requirement rather than elective credit. Program price, housing, travel, scholarships, and the treatment of existing financial aid can differ substantially between an exchange and a third-party program. Passport, visa, health, and safety requirements also need attention well before the intended term.

Wichita State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
905–1240
4001600
ACT range
17–25
136
Acceptance rate
94%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
94%
Kansas
82%
US
78%

20% of admitted students enrolled (1,871 of 9,316)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Wichita State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 9,916
Admission
Total: 9,316
Enrolled
Total: 1,871
Women
Men

How to Apply to Wichita State University

Application fee

$40

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Wichita State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,340
Out-of-state: 418
International: 107

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,871
Transfer: 1,298

Wichita State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1102

Median composite ACT score

23

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

71%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

4.2%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

Yes

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Wichita State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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