by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Kansas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks 72 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 72 graduate schools using more than 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Kansas to be the best graduate school in Kansas. This public school is set in Lawrence, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,289. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete a degree here.
Kansas State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,543. Graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
Flint Hills Technical College came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. Located in Emporia, KS, Flint Hills Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,944 in tuition and fees. Flint Hills Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,435. The median student debt is $14,690.
You'll be in good company at Salina Area Technical College, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Salina, KS, Salina Area Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,440. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete a degree here.
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Kansas. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. Students from in state pay about $9,844 in tuition and fees. Manhattan Area Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,205. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete a degree here.
Midamerica Nazarene University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Olathe, KS, Midamerica Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $37,174 in tuition and fees. Midamerica Nazarene University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,799. The median student debt is $25,740.
Pittsburg State University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Set in Pittsburg, KS, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. Pittsburg State University graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Pittsburg State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,003. Students borrow a median of $22,669 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Kansas Technical College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Goodland, KS, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a public institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,638.
Benedictine College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Atchison, KS, Benedictine College is a private not-for-profit institution. Benedictine College graduates 62% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,350. Benedictine College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,255. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete a degree here.
North Central Kansas Technical College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. North Central Kansas Technical College is a public school based in Beloit, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350.
Baker University landed the #11 spot in Kansas this year. Located 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,916. The median student debt is $29,554.
Johnson County Community College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Johnson County Community College is a public school based in Overland Park, KS. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,473 early in their careers. The median student debt is $13,532.
Washburn Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,749. Washburn Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $11,362 in debt.
Fort Hays State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Fort Hays State University is a public school based in Hays, KS. Fort Hays State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,775. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete a degree here.
Hutchinson Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Hutchinson, KS, Hutchinson Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Median early-career earnings reach $42,285. Hutchinson Community College students take on a median of $18,148 in debt.
Wichita State University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Wichita, KS. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,278. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete a degree here.
Emporia State University landed the #17 spot in Kansas this year. This public school is set in Emporia, KS. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,440. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete a degree here.
Washburn University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Based in Topeka, KS, Washburn University is a public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,955. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete a degree here.
Neosho County Community College placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Neosho County Community College is a public school based in Chanute, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,704. Neosho County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,672. Graduates carry a median of $13,209 in student loans.
Tabor College did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hillsboro, KS. Tabor College graduates 34% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,200.
Ottawa University Online came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Overland Park, KS, Ottawa University Online is a private not-for-profit institution. Ottawa University Online graduates 43% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,296. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,615 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,758.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Liberal, KS, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,375. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School students take on a median of $9,175 in debt.
Hesston College placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Kansas. Based in Hesston, KS, Hesston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,936. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,338 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Southwestern College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Southwestern College is a private not-for-profit school based in Winfield, KS. About 36% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,822 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,036 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,874.
Wichita Area Technical College landed the #25 spot in Kansas this year. Wichita Area Technical College is a public school based in Wichita, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,237. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,358. The median student debt is $11,828.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.