The cost of college in Kansas — and what it pays back
Across the 57 Kansas institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $15,280/yr, $1,622 below the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $45,846 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 23 of the 57 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Kansas's 57 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galen Health Institutes-Wichita | $29,785 | $61,480 | 4.5 yrs |
| University of Kansas | $18,059 | $61,945 | 5.3 yrs |
| Baker University | $25,301 | $63,855 | 6.5 yrs |
| University of Saint Mary | $22,519 | $59,483 | 8.1 yrs |
| Kansas State University | $19,406 | $57,262 | 8.7 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haskell Indian Nations University | $3,134 | $37,043 | no payback |
| Independence Community College | $3,265 | $34,941 | no payback |
| Dodge City Community College | $4,068 | $45,427 | no payback |
| Coffeyville Community College | $4,957 | $35,246 | no payback |
| Fort Scott Community College | $5,586 | $37,213 | no payback |
How many Kansas colleges actually pay for themselves?
23 of 57 — 40% of the Kansas institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Kansas graduates out-earn the national median?
Kansas graduates report a median $45,846 ten years after entry, $2,298 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.