Ranking

Best Colleges in Kansas by ROI 2026

The top-value Kansas colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $3,134
Top earnings 10y: $63,855
Public / Private: 13 / 10

Haskell Indian Nations University

A+

Lawrence, KS · Public

ROI score: 29.55
Net price: $3,134
Earnings 10y: $37,043
Acceptance: 90.4%

Independence Community College

A+

Independence, KS · Public

ROI score: 26.75
Net price: $3,265
Earnings 10y: $34,941
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Labette Community College

Parsons, KS · Public

ROI score: 15.92
Net price: $5,939
Earnings 10y: $37,818
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Allen County Community College

Iola, KS · Public

ROI score: 11.59
Net price: $8,642
Earnings 10y: $40,059
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS · Public

ROI score: 9.76
Net price: $13,194
Earnings 10y: $51,532
Acceptance: 94%

Central Christian College of Kansas

McPherson, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.75
Net price: $11,404
Earnings 10y: $44,468
Acceptance: 52.7%

Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS · Public

ROI score: 9.73
Net price: $12,569
Earnings 10y: $48,928
Acceptance: 90.3%

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public

ROI score: 8.58
Net price: $18,059
Earnings 10y: $61,945
Acceptance: 93.5%

WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita

Wichita, KS · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 8.36
Net price: $8,925
Earnings 10y: $29,839
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Washburn University

Topeka, KS · Public

ROI score: 8.14
Net price: $15,280
Earnings 10y: $49,774
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS · Public

ROI score: 8.01
Net price: $15,784
Earnings 10y: $50,579
Acceptance: 89.4%

#12

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS · Public

ROI score: 8.00
Net price: $14,176
Earnings 10y: $45,387
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

Donnelly College

Kansas City, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.78
Net price: $11,476
Earnings 10y: $35,715
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#14

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

ROI score: 7.38
Net price: $19,406
Earnings 10y: $57,262
Acceptance: 81.7%

#15

Emporia State University

Emporia, KS · Public

ROI score: 7.32
Net price: $16,261
Earnings 10y: $47,601
Acceptance: 97.7%

#16

Newman University

Wichita, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.89
Net price: $19,971
Earnings 10y: $55,041
Acceptance: 74%

#17

Tabor College

Hillsboro, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.69
Net price: $20,205
Earnings 10y: $54,058
Acceptance: 64.6%

#18

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.60
Net price: $22,519
Earnings 10y: $59,483
Acceptance: 86.6%

#19

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS · Public

ROI score: 6.55
Net price: $15,724
Earnings 10y: $41,206
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#20

Baker University

Baldwin City, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.31
Net price: $25,301
Earnings 10y: $63,855
Acceptance: 94.2%

#21

Kansas Wesleyan University

Salina, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.64
Net price: $22,671
Earnings 10y: $51,152
Acceptance: 71.9%

#22

Galen Health Institutes-Wichita

Wichita, KS · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 5.16
Net price: $29,785
Earnings 10y: $61,480
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Sterling College

Sterling, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.12
Net price: $22,371
Earnings 10y: $45,846
Acceptance: 48.2%

#24

Manhattan Christian College

Manhattan, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.04
Net price: $24,213
Earnings 10y: $48,860
Acceptance: 100%

#25

Ottawa University-Ottawa

Ottawa, KS · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.97
Net price: $27,963
Earnings 10y: $55,552
Acceptance: 83%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Kansas colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 9.42 (13 public, 10 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Kansas colleges are in this list?

37 Kansas colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.