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Pittsburg State University

Pitt State

Pittsburg, Kansas 66762

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

College townGreek life

Known for business

Pittsburg State University is a public institution in Pittsburg with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1090, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 4.2K undergraduates with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

58% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $50,579 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,889.

Established
1903
Motto
"By doing, learn."On seal: "Research, Instruction, Service"
Mascot
Gus the Gorilla
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

88%Acceptance
1090SAT Avg
4,162Students
15:1Student:Faculty
58%Grad Rate
$50,579Earnings 10yr
$18,889Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate88.2%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1824

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$8,008
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,692
Room & Board$9,398
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$22,426
Average Net Price$18,889
Median Debt at Graduation$18,969
Monthly Payment (10yr)$201

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$17,392
$30–48K$17,369
$48–75K$18,833
$75–110K$20,287
$110K+$19,715

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

55.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

1.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

27

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

6

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

2

Motor Vehicle Theft

3

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

8

Drug Arrests

6

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (89)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

78%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
4,162
Gender Split
50% / 50%
Women / Men
First Generation
32%
Pell Grant Recipients
32%

Race & Ethnicity

White 79%
Black 3%
Hispanic 7%
Asian 1%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate57.6%
Freshman Retention77.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$43,793
10 Years$50,579

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Gorillas

Baseball

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1913, it became a full-fledged four-year institution and dropped "Auxiliary" from the front of its name.
  • In 1923, the institution changed its name to Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, or Pittsburg State for short.
  • It became Pittsburg State University on April 21, 1977.
  • The top leadership post was originally titled "principal" from 1903 to 1913.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from KS state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Kansas Citypop. 500K
118 mi(205 min)
St. Louispop. 290K
260 mi(451 min)
Dallaspop. 1.3M
340 mi(589 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MCI Kansas City132 mi
OKC Oklahoma City212 mi
STL St Louis254 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1295 mi · ~37h 25m drive
New York, NY1131 mi · ~32h 40m drive
Hartford, CT1208 mi · ~34h 54m drive
Providence, RI1273 mi · ~36h 47m drive
Albany, NY1163 mi · ~33h 36m drive
Syracuse, NY1051 mi · ~30h 22m drive
Rochester, NY983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Buffalo, NY916 mi · ~26h 28m drive
Philadelphia, PA1066 mi · ~30h 48m drive
Pittsburgh, PA817 mi · ~23h 36m drive
Harrisburg, PA978 mi · ~28h 15m drive
Newark, NJ1123 mi · ~32h 27m drive
Washington, DC964 mi · ~27h 51m drive
Baltimore, MD987 mi · ~28h 31m drive
Atlanta, GA632 mi · ~18h 15m drive
Charlotte, NC785 mi · ~22h 41m drive
Raleigh, NC897 mi · ~25h 55m drive
Miami, FL1170 mi · ~33h 48m drive
Orlando, FL983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Tampa, FL964 mi · ~27h 51m drive
Nashville, TN446 mi · ~12h 53m drive
New Orleans, LA579 mi · ~16h 44m drive
Richmond, VA946 mi · ~27h 20m drive
Chicago, IL487 mi · ~14h 4m drive
Detroit, MI705 mi · ~20h 22m drive
Minneapolis, MN529 mi · ~15h 17m drive
St. Louis, MO260 mi · ~7h 31m drive
Kansas City, MO118 mi · ~3h 25m drive
Indianapolis, IN490 mi · ~14h 9m drive
Columbus, OH655 mi · ~18h 55m drive
Cleveland, OH749 mi · ~21h 38m drive
Milwaukee, WI530 mi · ~15h 19m drive
Dallas, TX340 mi · ~9h 49m drive
Houston, TX529 mi · ~15h 17m drive
Austin, TX522 mi · ~15h 5m drive
San Antonio, TX592 mi · ~17h 6m drive
Los Angeles, CA1337 mi · ~38h 37m drive
San Francisco, CA1512 mi · ~43h 41m drive
San Diego, CA1307 mi · ~37h 45m drive
Seattle, WA1563 mi · ~45h 9m drive
Portland, OR1544 mi · ~44h 36m drive
Denver, CO579 mi · ~16h 44m drive
Phoenix, AZ1014 mi · ~29h 18m drive
Salt Lake City, UT949 mi · ~27h 25m drive
Honolulu, HI3890 mi · ~112h 23m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

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