Why This Matters

  • 34 COLLEGES IN KANSAS

    According to College Navigator, there are eight public universities, 23 private non-profit colleges, and three private for-profit schools in Kansas.

  • $9,360 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to College Board, the average cost of in-state tuition for the 2020-21 school year was $9,360 in Kansas.

  • $14,940 FINANCIAL AID PER U.S. STUDENT

    The national average financial aid per full-time student awarded in 2019-20 was $14,940.

Our Research

This comprehensive list of the best colleges in Kansas includes all of the major state universities, and it includes colleges offering specialized programs, liberal arts programs, technical specialties, and more.

We only included schools that are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which is a regional accreditor for 19 mid-region states across the U.S., including Kansas. This accreditation rates schools based on five factors: mission, ethics, teaching and quality, teaching and learning, and resources and institutional effectiveness. The United States Department of Education recognizes the Higher Learning Commission as the assigned accreditor for this region.

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 57 hours to write this article
  • 192 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 384 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Colleges in Kansas

Best Colleges In Kansas
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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Kansas

When considering schools in a specific state, it’s crucial to know the employment outlook for that state. As of October 2020, the top five industries in Kansas are trade, transportation and utilities; government; goods-producing services; education and health services; and professional and business services.

And if you want to dive a little deeper, you might be interested in learning about the fastest growing careers in Kansas. The top five fastest growing occupations in the state are information security analysts, application software developers, cartographers and photogrammetrists, operations research analysts, and computer hardware engineers.

Kansas has a significant number of major companies that employ thousands of people. Some of the top employers in the state include Spirit Aerosystems, Kansas State University, Wesley Medical Center, S&C Electric Co., and Stormont Vail Healthcare.

What’s Next?

It’s essential to have a complete understanding of the financial aid options available to you. Here are the three major resources for researching federal and state financial aid options for Kansas:

  • The Kansas Board of Regents. The Kansas Board of Regents is a Higher Education Agency and a branch office of the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the most useful information for students on this site includes the Financial Aid FAQ, a list of Kansas Financial Aid Offices, and a page detailing state-wide scholarships and grants.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Student Aid is a branch office of the U.S. Department of Education. Students who are interested in applying for federal financial aid can do so through the FAFSA website. You can also check your eligibility for FAFSA.
  • CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and provides students with a single resource to research information about potential careers, training, and jobs. Users can filter their options by state and degree type and look at scholarships and grants within a specific state.