Colleges in Kansas
Why go to College in Kansas?
Kansas blends the small-town feel of America's heartland with the innovative culture of urban centers like Wichita, Manhattan, and Kansas City. Its higher education options range from major research centers like Kansas State University to community-oriented colleges such as Mid-America Nazarene University. The Kansas City Royals and the Wichita Thunder offer high-value sporting events while Massachusetts Street in Lawrence and the hotspots of Aggieville in Manhattan give students plenty to do during their free time.
What Options are Available for Colleges in Kansas?
On-Campus
Attending on-campus programs offers students the traditional collegiate experience. Besides friendships and instructor interactions, Kansas' higher education institutions also offer on-site labs for future scientists, conservatories for budding musicians, and student farms to give tomorrow's agriculturalists hands-on experience. Traditional students also have access to on-campus events, student clubs, ROTC, libraries, and college resource centers. The ideal student for this type of program is usually fresh out of high school and has few commitments outside school.
Online Programs
Online schools in Kansas are designed for working professionals, distance learners, and those raising families. The courses and academic rigor are the same as on-campus courses, but digital learners typically enjoy the flexibility to study when it is convenient for them. These students choose online colleges in Kansas for a variety of reasons. Some want to avoid the hassle of a commute, while others may want to spend more time with family or save money by living at home. Shy or reticent students may also find class participation easier and more natural in a digital space.
Hybrid Programs
Hybrid academic programs blend an online degree's flexibility with a traditional face-to-face learning experience. Many hybrid programs offer in-person residential courses on weekends or during abbreviated summer terms in order to minimize the disruption to a student's schedule. Other schools incorporate an internship, practicum, or lab component into their program's face-to-face classes while permitting students to complete more theory-based courses online. Hybrid programs are especially popular in the hard sciences and at the graduate level.
Popular Degree Programs in Kansas
Kansas relies on agriculture, energy, and natural resource production for its economic backbone. The state's higher education institutions, including online colleges in Kansas, reflect its commitment to operating effective businesses in these areas. According to Business Insider , the most popular major in Kansas is business management and administration, and a disproportionately large percentage of students choose architectural engineering.
Business Management and Administration This major is ideal for students seeking careers in finance, accounting, human resources, supply chain management, or marketing. From initial product development through the final phases of delivery and customer service, Kansas' diverse economy gives students opportunities to gain practical experience with business management and administration in areas like agriculture, energy, and natural resources.
Architectural Engineering Learning everything from planning to construction, architectural engineering students are taught the full work cycle of engineered systems at large industrial and residential facilities. These systems include electric power, communications, acoustics, lighting, HVAC, fire safety, and sustainability. With this major, future engineers can take advantage of the swelling number of architectural engineering firms in Kansas City.
Best Online Colleges in Kansas for 2019
The following ranking of the best online colleges in Kansas offers a glimpse of the state's top higher education institutions. Since programs differ in length, emphasis, cost, and reputation, you need to research online schools in Kansas to determine the ones that best suit your needs and interests. Applicants will want to consider a broad range of characteristics such as the school's reputation, its academic programs, and its overall cost when selecting their top choices.
Top 15 Colleges in Kansas for 2019
Admissions Rate
82%
Graduation Rate
60%
Online Enrollment
19%
Retention Rate
77%
Default Rate
6%
BU is a private university with alumni who have become successful Fortune 500 CEOs, politicians, and best-selling authors. This online college in Kansas offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with several concentration options, including business leadership, management, or strategic business communication. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an associate degree in business are also available.
Distance learners at the graduate level can enroll in programs like education, business administration, and healthcare management. All online classes and course materials are fully web-based and can be taken asynchronously, though upon acceptance to a program, students begin taking classes as a cohort. Programs run throughout the year and applications are accepted year-round.
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Best Online Community Colleges in Kansas for 2019
Top 10 Online Community Colleges in Kansas for 2019
Graduation Rate
57%
Online Enrollment
11%
Retention Rate
70%
Default Rate
15%
One of Kansas' 19 community colleges, Flint Hills Technical College was originally founded in the 1960s. FHTC has stayed small over the years — enrolling fewer than 1,000 students as recently as 2015 — and is one of the smaller online community colleges in Kansas. That said, the college has also evolved and now offers four fully online programs in healthcare administration, power plant technology, business administration, and interactive multimedia design. None of these programs require students to visit the Emporia campus.
Students willing to complete some on-campus coursework can enroll in FHTC's hybrid programs in industrial engineering technology, emergency services technology, and interactive multimedia design. All online program coursework is delivered asynchronously. Since many of these programs are technical in nature, students may transfer in some credit for their previous technical education coursework. This transfer path is more common than students transferring out of FHTC, although some students do continue on to four-year schools.
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How We Ranked the Schools
To determine the best programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in management information systems programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.
Education Trends in Kansas
Kansas spends slightly less money per full-time college student than the national average. Yet, the state allocates a substantially larger percentage of its tax revenue to higher education than the average U.S. state. This expenditure reveals Kansas' commitment to higher education. In addition, a larger percentage of people in Kansas possess a bachelor's degree than the national average, while the numbers of associate degree holders and graduate degree holders fall only marginally beneath the national mean.
| Kansas | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Spending per Full-Time Student | $6,898 | $6,954 |
| Percent of Tax Revenue Allocated to Higher Education | 7.5% | 5.8% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with associate degree | 8% | 8.1% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with bachelor's degree | 20% | 18.5% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with graduate degree or higher | 11% | 11.2% |
| Source: SHEEO and U.S. Census | ||
Paying for College in Kansas
Nearly all higher education opportunities come with a price tag attached. While scholarships, grants, and personal funds can help cover a student's expenses, paying for a two- to four-year education remains a challenge. Fortunately, the cost of a public institution in Kansas falls below the national average for in-state tuition. Some students choose one of the online schools in Kansas to have the flexibility to earn income while attending school.
Tuition Prices
Public colleges and universities often provide discounted tuition rates for in-state residents. Two-year institutions sometimes offer even deeper price cuts for in-state learners. In Kansas, the tuition is below the national average. When budgeting for college, however, prospective students should not forget the costs of books, transportation, room, board, and related personal expenses.
Financial Aid
Students in the U.S. can take advantage of public and private aid to help alleviate the financial burden of higher education. All students, no matter whether they plan to enroll in online colleges in Kansas or traditional programs, should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . This application is required in order to be eligible for federal grants, loans, and work-study funds.
Grants and scholarships are free and help cover the costs of higher education. Students who receive loans, however, must pay them back in full with interest. For some loans, the federal government will cover part of the interest. To limit post-graduation debt, students should accept scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities before loans, particularly if the loans are from private lending institutions that charge higher interest rates.
Cost for Online Programs in Kansas
Applicants to online colleges in Kansas are eligible for financial aid from the state and federal government, universities, and private organizations. Like traditional students, online learners begin the aid process by completing the FAFSA. Attending one of the many online schools in Kansas can help students lower their education costs. While most online programs carry tuition costs equal to those of their on-campus counterparts, other fees may not apply. For example, digital learners can save on on transportation costs, books, child care, and room and board.
Cost of Living by Region
Effective budgeting for higher education requires you to consider more than just tuition. You must also take into account the cost of living, which is determined by a school's location. By choosing a city with a low cost of living, students can reduce the overall expense of their education and limit their student loan debt. Graduates with a low debt-to-income ratios have more choices about what jobs they can accept, where they can live, and what kind of lifestyle they can maintain.
Scholarships for Kansas College Students
Can all Scholarships be Used for Online Programs?
Most scholarships apply to both traditional and online colleges in Kansas. Scholarship recipients should examine their award letter to understand any restrictions that come with the funds, or inquire with the scholarship organization. Some scholarships may not apply to an applicant's chosen school. Others may have extra programmatic or residency requirements. The only way to be certain an award will cover a particular program is to check with the scholarship-granting organization.
Employment Outlook in Kansas
Kansas residents enjoy a higher rate of employment than the national average, although wages in Kansas dip just below the mean. The state historically relied on agriculture as its economic engine, and experts believe farming jobs will continue to expand at a rapid pace. Kansas' economy, however, continues to diversify. The booming health care and education industries are leading Kansas' job growth trends just as they are in many states across the country. As a state with a growing population, Kansas has also witnessed considerable job growth in the construction sector.
| Kansas | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate, May 2017 | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| Annual Mean Wage, May 2016 | $43,950 | $49,630 |
| Source: BLS and BLS | ||
Top Employers and Industries in Kansas
Top Industries in Kansas
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: These industries include wholesale trade, retail commerce, the transportation of goods and services, and the provision of electrical power and water. Most workers in this sector find employment with private companies.
Government: This sector includes employment at the federal, state, and local levels. Fort Riley, an Army installation in Kansas, is a major government employer in the state.
Education and Health Services: Education and health services in Kansas are a single supersector. Educational employers include higher education institutions that provide training and instruction. Health services include hospitals and other health care providers.
Top Employers in Kansas
Spirit Aerosystems: 15,000 employees
Fort Riley: 12,500 employees
Sprint Corp: 12,500 employees
Source: careerinfonet.org
Accreditation for Colleges in Kansas
With the accelerating growth of online schools, students must determine what program gives them the most value for their money. The best indicator of a quality education is a school's accreditation. Accredited schools undergo a rigorous review process, although not all forms of accreditation are made alike. The two main types are national and regional accreditation. Regional accreditation is generally considered the gold standard. A regionally accredited school holds recognition with one of six regional accrediting bodies.
The best indicator of a quality education is a school's accreditation.
For Kansas, that body is the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. National accreditation typically applies to career-based programs. The Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversees both accreditation processes. CHEA is a private organization composed of more than 60 accrediting bodies that count 3,000 academic institutions among their members. Between it and the U.S. Department of Education, these two groups help standardize accreditation bodies and systems for U.S. institutions. To see a list of accredited online schools in Kansas, visit the CHEA website .
Resources for Students in Kansas
Kansas Board of Regents : The Kansas Board of Regents governs all 32 of the state's higher education institutions, including its six universities. The website contains plenty of helpful information on Kansas public college programs and statewide education initiatives.
Kansas Association of Technical Colleges : Seven career and technical colleges form this association of schools that work together to provide businesses with skilled technicians in transportation, construction, manufacturing, and other industries.
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools : This regional accrediting body's higher learning commission grants membership to colleges and universities in Kansas and nearby states. Its website includes a searchable database of its accredited institutions.
Kansas Independent College Association : Nineteen of Kansas' independent, accredited, degree-granting colleges form this association whose goal is to promote the flourishing of small colleges, their faculties, and their students. This association also provides scholarship opportunities for students attending its member institutions.
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) : KCAC promotes intercollegiate competitive sports among 10 of Kansas' top independent or private higher education institutions. Students at participating colleges can compete in a wide variety of men's and women's sports.
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference : Community college students across Kansas have the opportunity to compete in a variety of team sports, including baseball, basketball, football, tennis, and soccer. This conference includes all 19 of the state's community colleges.
Kansas Association of Community College Trustees : This association links Kansas' 19 community colleges together to create a cooperative learning system that promotes collaboration across the state. The website includes a list of participating colleges and a program search tool.