Best colleges in Kansas, ranked by ROI

Name: Kansas colleges — cost, earnings and ROI rankings
Creator: Degree Dividend

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 57 Kansas institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $15,280/yr (below the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $45,846 ten years out (above the $43,549 national median). Galen Health Institutes-Wichita leads, clearing its cost in 4.5 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$15,280

Median net price / yr

Scorecard, 2026

$45,846

Median earnings, 10 yrs

Scorecard, 2026

16.4 yrs

Median payback

Our math, 2026

Colleges ranked

degreedividend.com

Kansas colleges by payback (best first)

#	College	Net price/yr	Earnings 10y	Payback
1	Galen Health Institutes-Wichita	$29,785	$61,480	4.5 yrs
2	University of Kansas	$18,059	$61,945	5.3 yrs
3	Baker University	$25,301	$63,855	6.5 yrs
4	University of Saint Mary	$22,519	$59,483	8.1 yrs
5	Kansas State University	$19,406	$57,262	8.7 yrs
6	MidAmerica Nazarene University	$32,165	$62,972	8.8 yrs
7	Pratt Community College	$9,731	$51,892	11 yrs
8	Manhattan Area Technical College	$10,074	$51,864	11.5 yrs
9	Newman University	$19,971	$55,041	12 yrs
10	Tabor College	$20,205	$54,058	14.2 yrs
11	Ottawa University-Ottawa	$27,963	$55,552	15.6 yrs
12	Southwestern College	$29,824	$55,646	16.4 yrs
13	Wichita State University	$13,194	$51,532	16.6 yrs
14	Benedictine College	$27,891	$53,175	23.2 yrs
15	Washburn Institute of Technology	$8,607	$49,774	24.3 yrs
16	McPherson College	$26,441	$52,084	28.4 yrs
17	Pittsburg State University	$15,784	$50,579	28.5 yrs
18	Friends University	$27,715	$52,113	29.5 yrs
19	Kansas Wesleyan University	$22,671	$51,152	32.5 yrs
20	Washburn University	$15,280	$49,774	43.2 yrs
21	Bethany College	$27,686	$49,694	83 yrs
22	Bethel College-North Newton	$32,917	$49,898	85.6 yrs
23	Fort Hays State University	$12,569	$48,928	88.5 yrs
24	Hesston College	$26,299	$47,495	no payback
25	Dodge City Community College	$4,068	$45,427	no payback
26	Fort Hays Tech North Central	$12,393	$46,928	no payback
27	Emporia State University	$16,261	$47,601	no payback
28	Johnson County Community College	$14,176	$45,387	no payback
29	Neosho County Community College	$10,271	$45,966	no payback
30	Flint Hills Technical College	$16,017	$47,007	no payback
31	Central Christian College of Kansas	$11,404	$44,468	no payback
32	Hutchinson Community College	$6,727	$43,470	no payback
33	Sterling College	$22,371	$45,846	no payback
34	Salina Area Technical College	$6,468	$42,175	no payback
35	Colby Community College	$7,886	$41,889	no payback
36	Seward County Community College	$6,717	$41,445	no payback
37	Garden City Community College	$8,244	$41,704	no payback
38	Butler Community College	$15,724	$41,206	no payback
39	Highland Community College	$10,454	$41,291	no payback
40	Allen County Community College	$8,642	$40,059	no payback
41	Barton County Community College	$9,905	$40,428	no payback
42	Cloud County Community College	$11,685	$39,883	no payback
43	Kansas City Kansas Community College	$16,744	$40,795	no payback
44	Labette Community College	$5,939	$37,818	no payback
45	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology	$8,805	$38,679	no payback
46	Haskell Indian Nations University	$3,134	$37,043	no payback
47	Rasmussen University-Kansas	$23,980	$39,080	no payback
48	Cowley County Community College	$7,175	$37,723	no payback
49	Fort Scott Community College	$5,586	$37,213	no payback
50	Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College	$13,074	$38,616	no payback
51	Independence Community College	$3,265	$34,941	no payback
52	Donnelly College	$11,476	$35,715	no payback
53	Coffeyville Community College	$4,957	$35,246	no payback
54	Wichita Technical Institute	$18,793	$34,101	no payback
55	Z Hair Academy	$18,893	$27,346	no payback
56	Crave Beauty Academy	$19,183	$26,589	no payback
57	Bellus Academy	$26,631	$25,223	no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Kansas: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Kansas?

Galen Health Institutes-Wichita. It charges $29,785/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $61,480 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 4.5 years — the fastest payback of the 57 Kansas colleges we track.

How much does college cost in Kansas?

The median net price across Kansas colleges is $15,280/yr after grants and scholarships — below the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.

What do Kansas college graduates earn?

A median $45,846 ten years after entry (Scorecard), above the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.

How many Kansas colleges pay for themselves?

23 of the 57 Kansas colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.