Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
University of Kansas ranked first and Baker University ranked second for the best colleges in Kansas. Higher education in Kansas comprises a mix of large public universities and smaller institutions. Kansas State University, the state’s oldest and flagship university, is known as much for its research as it is for its social life and sports teams, which have won several Big 12 championships. Kansas is also home to the longest continuously operating federal tribal university in the United States, Haskell Indian Nations University. Barclay College, while small, offers a full-tuition scholarship to all full-time students who pay to live on-campus.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$18,430
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$61,945
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate65%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$22,991
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$63,855
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate68%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$21,656
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$59,483
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate61%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,861
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$57,262
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate66%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$11,793
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$49,774
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate59%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,299
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$51,532
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate54%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$18,556
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$55,041
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate59%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$28,554
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$62,972
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate57%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$13,096
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$48,928
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate50%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$16,211
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$50,579
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate58%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,750
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$47,601
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate53%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$21,961
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$51,152
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate49%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$28,399
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$53,175
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate66%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$21,536
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$47,495
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate64%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$24,956
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$49,898
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate52%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$24,393
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$52,084
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate49%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$22,082
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$52,113
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate46%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$27,522
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$55,552
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate43%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$27,053
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$55,646
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate45%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$22,604
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$54,058
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
Graduation rate46%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
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Average income based on education level
The following figures are the average salaries in Kansas for each level of education.
Average Income
The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
HS Diploma$36,659
Certificate$44,883
Associate$53,946
Bachelor$54,777
Master$60,936
Cost of attending college in Kansas
In-state-tuition$22,047
The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
Out-of-state-tuition$24,834
The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.
Most popular degrees in Kansas
In Kansas the most popular degrees are Business Administration, Education-grades & methods, and Registered Nursing. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard.
They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs.
Popular degrees
1Business Administration 3,239graduates
2Education-grades & methods 1,661graduates
3Registered Nursing 1,463graduates
4General Psychology 858graduates
5Accounting 813graduates
6Finance 757graduates
7Education-by subject area 689graduates
8Social Work 608graduates
9Health & Fitness 605graduates
10Biology 525graduates
Fastest growing careers
Kansas job growth
6.9%
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
51%
Statisticians
46.7%
Nurse Practitioners
45.1%
Information Security Analysts
38.7%
Medical and Health Services Managers
29.7%
Physician Assistants
27.8%
Occupational Therapy Assistants
27.3%
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
26.3%
Physical Therapist Assistants
24.2%
Actuaries
23.7%
Best bachelor’s degrees in Kansas
These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.
Program NamesEconomic Score
1Pharmaceutical Sciences 0.81
2Construction Engr. Tech 1.55
3Electrical Engineering 1.61
4Chemical Engineering 1.63
5Construction Mgmt. 1.73
6Computer Science 1.75
7Mechanical Engineering 1.85
8Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. 1.87
Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds.
To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).
The best colleges for social mobility in Kansas are shown below.
Bachelor's degree holders or higher
32.3%
Filters
Kansas
6.9%
