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2024 Best Colleges in Kansas

47 Colleges
$44,898 Avg Salary*
36% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top Kansas Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Our analysis looked at 47 schools in Kansas to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

Customizing Your List

We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.

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One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!

Top Colleges in Kansas

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Kansas for overall quality. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the large public school awarded 7,358 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from KU is $56,386 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Kansas

2
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Out of the 47 schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Kansas State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, the fairly large public school handed out 6,030 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,608 during the early years of their career..

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3

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kansas. This medium-sized public school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 1,485 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from WSU Tech make an average of $42,434 a year.

Full Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Report

4

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Fort Hays State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kansas. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large public school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 4,297 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from FHSU make an average of $42,518 a year.

Read full report on Fort Hays State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 2,654 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from JCCC go into careers with an average salary of $41,108 during the early years of their career.

Full Johnson County Community College Report

6

Wichita State University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. WSU is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,761 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from WSU make an average of $47,524 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Wichita State University

7
Baker crest
Baker University
Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kansas list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 703 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Baker is $56,804 during the early years of their career.

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8

Emporia State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. ESU is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 1,860 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from ESU make an average of $40,772 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Emporia State University

9

With a ranking of #9, Garden City Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list.Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 594 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Garden City Community College go into careers with an average salary of $36,547 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

10
SC crest
Southwestern College
Winfield, Kansas

With a ranking of #10, Southwestern College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list. SC is located in Winfield, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 550 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from SC is $50,205 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Southwestern College

11

Pittsburg State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kansas ranking.Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,790 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,937 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Pittsburg State University

12

Northwest Kansas Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking.Goodland, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 393 students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NWKTC make an average of $36,776 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Northwest Kansas Technical College

13
Washburn University crest
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,553 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,260 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Washburn University

14

Barton County Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Barton County Community College is a small public school located in Great Bend, Kansas that handed out 989 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Barton Community College is $35,932 during the early years of their career.

Full Barton County Community College Report

15
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

With a ranking of #15, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list.Atchison, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 522 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College make an average of $47,772 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Benedictine College

16

MidAmerica Nazarene University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kansas list. Located in Olathe, Kansas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 598 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from MNU make an average of $50,243 a year.

Full MidAmerica Nazarene University Report

17
Butler CC crest
Butler Community College
El Dorado, Kansas

With a ranking of #17, Butler Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list. Butler CC is a medium-sized public school situated in El Dorado, Kansas. It awarded 1,416 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,296 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

18

With a ranking of #18, Colby Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas list. Colby Community College is a small public school located in Colby, Kansas that handed out 398 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,753 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Colby Community College

19
Newman University crest
Newman University
Wichita, Kansas

Newman University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Newman University is located in Wichita, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 496 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Newman University is $49,787 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

20

Ottawa University - Ottawa came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ottawa, Kansas. It awarded 110 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Ottawa is $47,355 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

21
University of St. Mary crest
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, Kansas

University of Saint Mary landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Located in Leavenworth, Kansas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 390 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from University of St. Mary go into careers with an average salary of $50,006 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Saint Mary

22
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

Sterling College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking.Sterling, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,497 during the early years of their career..

Full Sterling College Report

23
Hesston crest
Hesston College
Hesston, Kansas

Hesston College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking, coming in at #23. Hesston is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hesston, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 128 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Hesston make an average of $43,347 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Hesston College

24
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Kansas ranking. Tabor is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hillsboro, Kansas. It awarded 143 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Tabor is $44,228 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

25
Friends University crest
Friends University
Wichita, Kansas

Friends University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges in Kansas list. Friends University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 539 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Friends University make an average of $48,343 a year.

Read full report on Friends University

Best Colleges in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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