by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Kansas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **29** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 29 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is Pittsburg State University, our #1 college in Kansas. Set in Pittsburg, KS, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,003. Graduates carry a median of $22,669 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes Kansas State University one of the top colleges in Kansas. Kansas State University is a public school based in Manhattan, KS. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,543. The median student debt is $23,546.
A rank of #3 makes Flint Hills Technical College one of the top colleges in Kansas. This public school is set in Emporia, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,944. Flint Hills Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,435. Students borrow a median of $14,690 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes Johnson County Community College one of the top colleges in Kansas. Based in Overland Park, KS, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Johnson County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,473. Graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans.
Out of the 29 colleges in Kansas in this year's ranking, Hesston College landed the #5 spot. Hesston College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hesston, KS. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $32,936 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,338 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Hutchinson Community College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Hutchinson, KS, Hutchinson Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Median early-career earnings reach $42,285. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete a degree here.
Washburn University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Washburn University is a public school based in Topeka, KS. Washburn University graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $50,955. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete a degree here.
Wichita State University landed the #8 spot in Kansas this year. Based in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,262.
Salina Area Technical College landed the #9 spot in Kansas this year. Based in Salina, KS, Salina Area Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,440 early in their careers. Salina Area Technical College students take on a median of $17,124 in debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Goodland, KS, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Fort Hays State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Hays, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,775. Graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. North Central Kansas Technical College is a public school based in Beloit, KS. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees.
Neosho County Community College placed #13 among the best colleges in Kansas. Set in Chanute, KS, Neosho County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,704 in tuition and fees. Neosho County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,672. Students borrow a median of $13,209 to complete a degree here.
Wichita Area Technical College landed the #14 spot in Kansas this year. Wichita Area Technical College is a public school based in Wichita, KS. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans.
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,844. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $15,499.
Cloud County Community College placed #16 among the best colleges in Kansas. Set in Concordia, KS, Cloud County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,540, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,004 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $12,839 in student loans.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Liberal, KS, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,375. The median student debt is $9,175.
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #18 spot in Kansas this year. Set in Kansas City, KS, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,996, while out-of-state students pay about $6,482. Kansas City Kansas Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,216. Students borrow a median of $13,129 to complete a degree here.
Garden City Community College landed the #19 spot in Kansas this year. This public school is set in Garden City, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Median early-career earnings reach $35,476. Graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans.
Pratt Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Pratt, KS, Pratt Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $4,936 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $61,703. Pratt Community College students take on a median of $10,327 in debt.
Newman University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Wichita, KS, Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Students from in state pay about $35,500 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $73,004. Newman University students take on a median of $24,562 in debt.
Butler Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in El Dorado, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Butler Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,404. Typical student debt is $16,670.
Colby Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Colby, KS, Colby Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $5,830. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,598. Colby Community College students take on a median of $14,796 in debt.
Dodge City Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Dodge City, KS. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850.
Cowley County Community College landed the #25 spot in Kansas this year. Set in Arkansas City, KS, Cowley County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $6,600. Median early-career earnings reach $34,099. Graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.