Kansas State University

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This school appears in our ranking: 15 Best Universities for Master's Degree in Equine Studies 2018.

Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and locals usually refer to the school as Kansas State or K-State. Indeed, the official URL for the university features the K-State moniker. The school has the distinction as the first public college in the state with its founding in 1863 as Kansas State Agricultural College. Interestingly, the college was one of only two schools in the 1860s to admit women and men with the same application requirements. The school has grown to a size of more than 22,000 students as of 2017. The official color of the school is royal purple, and the school's sports teams are nicknamed the Wildcats. Students who participate in sports play in NCAA Division I games as part of the Big 12 Conference of teams.

Kansas State University Accreditation Details

Kansas State University was first accredited in 1916 by the Higher Learning Commission, the regional accrediting association for schools in Kansas and the surrounding states. The university is part of the Open Pathway program which reaffirms accreditation on a regular basis. The last time the school underwent its reaccreditation was during the 2011 to 2012 school year, and the school also underwent a mid-cycle assurance review a few years later. Programs at the university are also accredited by various groups. The Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board and the Interior Architecture & Product Design program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design. The Teacher Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Secondary Education program with an emphasis in Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design.

Kansas State University Application Requirements

Admission for first-year students at K-State includes the official application, as well as adherence to several basic standards including a rank in the top one-third of their graduating class, an ACT score of at least 21, or the successful completion of a pre-college curriculum program. The school accepts SAT scores but prefers that students take and submit their ACT scores. For students interested in applying to graduate school, the university requires that students submit the official application and submit all required supplemental documents that may include official transcripts, evidence of proficiency in English, and letters of recommendation. International students must also submit an affidavit of financial support.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For students enrolled in 14 hours, which is the average course load for a freshman at K-State, the school charges $4,327 per semester for in-state students and $11,483 for out-of-state students. For the year, that comes to $8,655 for in-state students and $22,966 for out-of-state students. Students will also pay fees related to the student newspaper, recreation complex, and health services. Students who choose to live on campus will pay between $6,938 to $10,100 per year depending on the housing option they choose. Other costs students will incur will include books, supplies, and miscellaneous costs related to activities like travel.

Students at Kansas State University are eligible for a variety of types of financial aid that range from those that must be repaid to those that are offered without any obligation to pay back the lender. Not only can students apply for scholarships through the university and independent sources, but they may also seek out student loans through the federal government or private banks. Some students will qualify for Federal Work Study rewards, as well as Federal Pell Grants, which are offered based on a student's financial need. Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA form by the beginning of December in the year before they wish to attend college to qualify for federal student aid.

Online Degrees Available

Kansas State University offers prospective students a choice of more than 70 different online programs through its Global Campus portal. Degree options for graduate school include programs in Adult Learning & Leadership, Chemical Engineering, Dietetics, Merchandising, and Operations Research. These are just a few of the programs available to students via online study. Further programs are available in areas like Human Ecology, the Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Business Administration, Education, and Architecture, Planning & Design. Students may enroll in some of the programs only if they already possess a bachelor's degree in the same area as their intended program for graduate school, but other programs are available to students from many educational backgrounds as long as the student has earned a degree from an accredited university.

Master of Science in Adult Learning & Leadership

One program that working adults in education may wish to consider is the Adult Learning & Leadership Master's Degree. The program is designed for people who are currently working with adults in educational settings and wish to advance their career through graduate-level study. Some of the careers open to students who graduate from the program in Adult Learning & Leadership include jobs as human resource managers, community college professionals, armed services professionals, and adult basic education and literacy professionals. Classes in the program include Introduction to Adult Learning & Leadership, Characteristics of the Adult Learner, Critical & Social Issues in Adult Learning, and Program Planning in Adult Learning & Leadership.

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering is another online degree option designed for working adults who have already entered the workforce. Incoming students should have a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. The program is available to domestic students, as well as those residing outside the country. Some of the careers students may consider with a graduate degree in chemical engineering include those in the industries of agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, microelectronics, consumer products, advanced materials, and energy. Courses offered in the program that students may choose to take include Hazardous Waste Engineering Seminar, Polymer Science and Engineering, Surface Phenomena, and Processing of Materials for Solid State Devices.

Master of Science in Dietetics

People who are currently employed as registered dietitians may wish to enter the Dietetics Master's Degree program, which is an online option for working adults who wish to earn a graduate degree. The program is part of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance and is designed to help students learn about cutting-edge information and research in food, nutrition, wellness, and food service management that may help enhance their current practice. Upon graduation from the program, students will be able to think critically and evaluate these concepts and theories in their research efforts and practice. These degrees in dietetics, chemical engineering, and education are just a few of the subjects available through the online campus at Kansas State University.