by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Kansas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **17** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 17 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
University Of Kansas earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. University Of Kansas is a public school based in Lawrence, KS. University Of Kansas posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,289. Typical student debt is $23,608.
Out of the 17 graduate schools in Kansas in this year's ranking, Kansas State University landed the #2 spot. Set in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,546.
Out of the 17 graduate schools in Kansas in this year's ranking, Pittsburg State University landed the #3 spot. Located in Pittsburg, KS, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. Pittsburg State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,744. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,003. Students borrow a median of $22,669 to complete a degree here.
Wichita State University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. Located in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. Wichita State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,278. Graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans.
Baker University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. Set in Baldwin City, KS, Baker University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,200. Baker University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,916. Typical student debt is $29,554.
Emporia State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public institution. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,440 early in their careers. Emporia State University students take on a median of $23,131 in debt.
Midamerica Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Olathe, KS. Midamerica Nazarene University graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,174. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,799. Typical student debt is $25,740.
Fort Hays State University landed the #8 spot in Kansas this year. Based in Hays, KS, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,775. Graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
Ottawa University Online did well this year, earning the #9 position. Ottawa University Online is a private not-for-profit school based in Overland Park, KS. About 43% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,296. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,615. Ottawa University Online students take on a median of $30,758 in debt.
Tabor College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Hillsboro, KS, Tabor College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $36,200.
Newman University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Wichita, KS, Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Newman University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,500. Median early-career earnings reach $73,004. The median student debt is $24,562.
Ottawa University Kansas City did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Overland Park, KS, Ottawa University Kansas City is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,296 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,615. Students borrow a median of $30,758 to complete a degree here.
Benedictine College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Benedictine College is a private not-for-profit school based in Atchison, KS. Benedictine College graduates 62% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
Washburn University landed the #14 spot in Kansas this year. This public school is set in Topeka, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Washburn University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,955. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete a degree here.
Southwestern College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Southwestern College is a private not-for-profit school based in Winfield, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. Students from in state pay about $39,822 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,036. Typical student debt is $26,874.
Friends University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wichita, KS. Friends University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,192. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,675. Friends University students take on a median of $29,721 in debt.
University Of Saint Mary placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Based in Leavenworth, KS, University Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $35,380 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,152. Typical student debt is $27,810.
Sterling College Kansas placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Located in Sterling, KS, Sterling College Kansas is a private not-for-profit institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $30,086. Typical student debt is $27,250.
Ottawa University Ottawa ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ottawa, KS. Ottawa University Ottawa graduates 28% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,880. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,850 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,416 to complete a degree here.
Kansas Wesleyan University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Kansas Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Salina, KS. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,630. Median early-career earnings reach $42,094. Typical student debt is $26,076.
Barclay College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Haviland, KS, Barclay College is a private not-for-profit institution. Barclay College graduates 3% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,590.
Central Christian College Of Kansas placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Located in McPherson, KS, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a private not-for-profit institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,979 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $36,560 in student loans.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.