


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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
20% of admitted students enrolled (1,871 of 9,316)
Application fee
$40Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1102Median composite ACT score
23Percent of students submitting ACT scores
71%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
4.2%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
YesComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
RequiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Neither required nor recommendedFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData 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.