Best Online Colleges in Kansas of 2023
Kansas offers a wide range of some of the most affordable online higher education opportunities in the country. If you’re planning to take college courses online, you certainly have plenty of reasonably priced options to choose from here. Below, we’ll go over tuition rates, financial aid, and everything else you need to know about attending online universities and colleges in Kansas.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online schools in Kansas. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
To help confirm that each of these institutions employs a high standard of education, we only included accredited schools. Many of these colleges have been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an organization consisting of voluntary professionals committed to evaluating and improving postsecondary institutions across north central America. To make its evaluations, the HLC evaluates several factors, including academic mission, integrity, and effectiveness.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for online students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
The Top 50 Online Colleges in Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Colleges in Kansas
Does Kansas have good online colleges and universities?
Yes, Kansas’s online bachelor’s and graduate degree programs are relatively well-regarded. For instance, U.S. News & World Report ranks Kansas State University as No. 47 in the country for online bachelor’s degree programs. At the graduate level, Fort Hays State University ranks No. 29 in the country for Online Master’s in Nursing; Kansas State University ranks in the top 25 in a number of online graduate degree paths, such as education and business; and University of Kansas offers many top 20 online degree programs, including the No. 1 Online Master’s in Special Education. Kansas’s online degree options, especially at the graduate level, combine quality with affordability.
Do online college credits in Kansas cost more than in-person classes?
The answer to this question depends on which college you attend. Some colleges offer discounted rates for online courses regardless of where you live, while others charge an additional fee for online courses to help cover the cost of software licenses, technical support, etc. Most online degree programs in Kansas charge the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. That’s why an online program can be particularly affordable for out-of-state students. At the community college level, in-state students tend to pay less than out-of-state students.
Why should you choose Kansas for online higher education?
Kansas has online bachelor’s and graduate degree programs that consistently rank toward the top of nationwide comparisons, particularly at the graduate level. This tells you that as an online student, you will get a flexible education that sacrifices nothing in the way of quality. Moreover, compared to the online programs in other states, Kansas’s offerings stand out for their affordability.
The Cost of Online College in Kansas
How much does an online degree in Kansas cost?
The cost of an online degree in Kansas depends on which institution you attend as well as the type of degree you choose to pursue. For example, undergraduate programs are usually more affordable than graduate degrees. Also, you may find yourself paying more for your degree if you major in a STEM field rather than the humanities.
Regardless of the cost per credit, you should also consider that you may be able to save a lot of money on indirect expenses, such as transportation and housing, by earning your college degree online.
To give you a sense of exactly how much you should expect to pay for your online education, we’ve listed the current rates for earning an online bachelor’s degree in Kansas below:
- Most affordable online college in Kansas: Sterling College, $145 per credit
- Most expensive online college in Kansas: Newman University, $1,080 per credit
Source: Education Data Initiative
How long do you have to live in Kansas to get in-state tuition rates?
Establishing Kansas residency typically requires you to have resided in Kansas for at least 365 days prior to declaring Kansas residency. You must prove you are in the state for a reason other than education. This requires, for instance, earning income in the state, not enrolling in a state university during the year you are establishing residency, and proving that you intend to stay in Kansas for the foreseeable future.
Who qualifies for reduced tuition costs in Kansas?
Kansas offers several ways to reduce your tuition costs. One is through participation in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), which caps tuition for out-of-state Midwest students at 150% of in-state tuition at public universities in participating Midwestern states. This can save you thousands, if not tens of thousands, on your degree.
The state also sponsors the Kansas Comprehensive Grant, which awards need-based aid (typically up to $3,500 per year) to Kansas students who attend accredited public or private universities in the state. Eligibility is determined based on FAFSA application data, so it’s important to file early and accurately. The FAFSA will also show if you are eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and other financial aid awards.
College Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grant Programs in Kansas
In addition to MSEP tuition reciprocity agreements and the Kansas Comprehensive Grant, there are a number of other programs available that can help you cover the cost of college. Some of these programs are also based on financial need, while others are awarded based on factors such as demographics or academic merit. We’ve reviewed a few of the most prominent financial aid options for you below:
Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant
Sponsored by the Kansas Board of Regents, this grant awards up to $1,000 per year to Kansas students enrolled in eligible high-value certificate and associate degree programs at approved technical colleges and state universities in Kansas. Preference is given to students with financial need.
Who’s eligible? Graduates of Kansas high schools who enroll in a certificate or associate degree program deemed by the state to be connected to a high-demand industry.
Contact information: [email protected] | 785-430-4240
Kansas State Scholarship
This state-sponsored grant awards up to $1,000 per year to students in the top 20-30% of their graduating high school class who take the Kansas Scholars Curriculum and earn the distinction of Kansas State Scholar. Awards are based on financial need.
Who’s eligible? Kansas high school graduates who complete the Kansas Scholars Curriculum and earn the distinction of Kansas State Scholar. You must take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and demonstrate financial need.
Contact information: [email protected] | 785-430-4240
Promise Act Scholarship
This program offers funding to Kansas students who attend eligible technical and public two-year colleges in the state and are working toward a degree in a high-need area, such as information technology and security, mental and physical healthcare, advanced manufacturing and building trades, or early childhood education and development.
Who’s eligible? Kansas residents enrolled at an eligible technical or two-year college who demonstrate financial need, pursue a high-demand degree/certificate, and commit to certain service requirements after graduation.
Contact information: [email protected] | 785-430-4240
Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship
This state-sponsored program awards merit-based funding to students planning to teach in an accredited school in Kansas upon graduation. You must specialize in a hard-to-fill discipline and/or commit to teaching in an underserved area of the state. This is a service-obligation scholarship program, meaning that you must commit to teaching in a Kansas public school for a set number of years upon earning your degree. Funds are rarely available for college freshmen and sophomores; juniors, seniors, and graduate students have priority.
Who’s eligible? Kansas residents who attend an accredited institution in Kansas and are earning a teaching degree in a hard-to-fill discipline (currently Elementary Education, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Special Education) at the bachelor’s or master’s degree level. Funding is merit-based, so you must excel academically.
Contact information: [email protected] | 785-430-4240
5 Fastest Growing Careers in Kansas
If you’re still in the process of assessing your college options, you may also be undecided on your major. When selecting a major, one of the most important factors to consider is your future employability. Thinking about which industries and careers are growing the fastest in Kansas can make it easier to find a job once you graduate, and being in demand should also help you earn a higher salary.
By consulting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Long-Term Occupational Projections 2018–2028, we’ve determined that the following five careers have some of the highest projected growth rates in Kansas:
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Market research analysts and marketing specialists use data to understand consumer preferences and tailor a company’s marketing campaigns to what will bring the greatest return on investment. In Kansas, market research analysts and marketing specialists make an average salary of $65,050 per year.
- Growth: 19.4%
- Degree options: Bachelor’s in Marketing, Bachelor’s in Communications, Bachelor’s in Business, Bachelor’s in Market Research, Bachelor’s in Statistics, Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Personal Care Aides
As Kansas’s population ages and chronic and acute medical conditions become more prevalent, the state is in increasing need of personal care aides to assist patients, often older adults or disabled people, with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing. In Kansas, personal care aides make an average annual salary of $24,140.
- Growth: 32.9%
- Degree options: Certificate in Personal Care Aide, Associate in Medical Assisting
Software Developers, Applications
As governments, companies, and individuals become ever more reliant on web-based technologies, it’s no surprise the skills of software developers, especially app developers, are in high demand. Salaries in this field tend to be quite high, with software developers earning an average salary of $99,380 per year in Kansas.
- Growth: 25%
- Degree options: Bachelor’s in Software Engineering, Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Master’s in Software Engineering, Master’s in Computer Science
Personal Financial Advisors
People often seek the expertise of personal financial advisors to manage their wealth and investments. These professionals therefore take on a lot of responsibility. They are educated, trained, and compensated accordingly — the average personal financial advisor earns $95,550 per year in Kansas.
- Growth: 22.3%
- Degree options: Bachelor’s in Accounting, Bachelor’s in Business, Bachelor’s in Finance, Bachelor’s in Economics, Bachelor’s in Statistics, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants (PAs) are one of the most in-demand health professionals. They work under physicians to support patient care, and must complete extensive education and medical training. They are not as highly compensated as physicians, but they still make six-figure salaries. The average annual PA salary in Kansas is $111,140.
- Growth: 20.5%
- Degree options: Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies