Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University is a public research university in Pittsburg, Kansas, serving roughly 4,210 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 89.42% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $50,579 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,400
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,784 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.42% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,210 92.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 56.59%
- Average SAT Score: 1050
Pittsburg State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Pittsburg State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pittsburg State University?
Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, KS (ZIP 66762).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Pittsburg State University public or private?
Pittsburg State University is a Public institution.
How much does Pittsburg State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,400 in-state, $19,744 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,784.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $11,968 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,453 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,676 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,873 |
| $110,001+ | $20,237 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $33,600.
How hard is it to get into Pittsburg State University?
Admission rate: 89.42%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1050 and midpoint ACT 21.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Pittsburg State University?
Total enrollment: 4,210 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pittsburg State University?
150%-time completion rate: 56.59%.
First-year retention: 77.2%.
What do graduates of Pittsburg State University earn?
Median earnings: $43,793 six years after entry; $50,579 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $18,969.
30.46% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pittsburg State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (3,084 completions)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,370 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (133 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, Other (119 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (106 completions)
- General Psychology (89 completions)
- CIP 150612 (86 completions)
- CIP 522001 (81 completions)
- Educational Administration & Support (64 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (62 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pittsburg State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.42%; completion rate 56.59%; median earnings $50,579 at 10 years; net price $15,784. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$8,400
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pittsburg State University was $8,400.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,784
2024 Value
In 2024 Pittsburg State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,784.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,136 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,784 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$33,600 4-Year In-State Tuition
$78,976 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Pittsburg State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
30.46% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
41.48% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pittsburg State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pittsburg State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,906 | $15,786 | $12,040 |
| 2014 | $6,230 | $16,336 | $12,395 |
| 2015 | $6,508 | $16,978 | $13,002 |
| 2016 | $6,910 | $17,662 | $13,446 |
| 2017 | $7,100 | $18,152 | $14,214 |
| 2018 | $7,298 | $18,642 | $13,910 |
| 2019 | $7,338 | $18,682 | $14,436 |
| 2020 | $7,504 | $18,848 | $14,575 |
| 2021 | $7,744 | $19,088 | $14,255 |
| 2022 | $7,970 | $19,654 | $16,240 |
| 2023 | $8,008 | $19,692 | $18,889 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.42% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1050
ACT Average: 21
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pittsburg State University in 2024 is 4,210 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
36.40% 100% Completion Time
56.59% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.40% of students graduating from Pittsburg State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Pittsburg State University.
Return on Investment
$18,969 Median Student Debt
$50,579 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
37.50% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
701.11% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pittsburg State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Liberal Arts & Sciences: 1,370 completions
Elementary Education & Teaching: 133 completions
Business Administration and Management, Other: 119 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 106 completions
General Psychology: 89 completions
CIP 15.0612: 86 completions
CIP 52.2001: 81 completions
Educational Administration & Support: 64 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 62 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 3,084 completions
Most popular programs at Pittsburg State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pittsburg State University graduates.
About
Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, KS, offering 75 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 4,210 students. The admission rate is 89.42%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1050. The institution maintains a 56.59% graduation rate. Approximately 30.46% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 75 distinct degree programs, Pittsburg State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Pittsburg State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $8,400 and average net price is $15,784 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Pittsburg State University?
The admission rate is 89.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Pittsburg State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pittsburg State University reports midpoint SAT about 1050 and midpoint ACT about 21.
What do graduates of Pittsburg State University earn?
Median earnings are $43,793 six years after entry and $50,579 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pittsburg State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 56.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pittsburg State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,969.
How big is Pittsburg State University?
Total enrollment is about 4,210 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Pittsburg State University public or private?
Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, KS.
Is Pittsburg State University an HBCU?
No. Pittsburg State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pittsburg State University a tribal college?
No. Pittsburg State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pittsburg State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Pittsburg State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 8.0%).
Is Pittsburg State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Pittsburg State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.