Top Kansas Colleges and Universities

About this article
Kansas is located in the heart of the American Midwest in what is often referred to as the Great Plains Region. Among the public institutions serving thousands of students, the five described below provide a world class education within a community atmosphere.
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Top Five Schools in Kansas

University of Kansas

The University of Kansas was founded in 1865 in Lawrence, which lies in the northeastern portion of the state. It is a large public university with 20,822 undergraduate students enrolled and a large array of graduate programs. Peterson's Guide to Competitive Colleges ranks KU as 'one of America's premier universities'. The college offers a world class education in the heart of the American Plains region, with a renowned computing department that was the developer of the seminal Lynx text based web browser. It is currently ranked #85 on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's Best Colleges.

Kansas State University

Kansas State University, often shortened to the term K-State, was founded in 1863 in Manhattan, Kansas. The institution enrolls 18,761 students, making it the second-largest college in the state of Kansas. Since 1986, Kansas State has had more total Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall Scholars than any other state university in the country. KSU is ranked #124 by U.S. News and World Report. Among its many excellent academic programs is an agricultural department that focuses on the native Great Plains plant and animal wildlife. K-State researchers were also the inventors of the equipment necessary for LASIK eye surgery.

Wichita State University

Almost 90 percent of the students at Wichita State University reside within the state of Kansas, a legacy that demonstrates this institution's commitment to a world-class education at a local site. The university was founded in 1895 and is one of six universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. Currently, there are 10,929 undergraduate students enrolled at Wichita State University. The college's baseball team has been the winningest team in college baseball for 31 years and is a favorite place for students and faculty to unwind after class.

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University is a public institution that was founded in 1902 in Hays, a small college town located in the central part of Kansas. The 7,864 undergraduates on campus chose from over 60 major fields of study, including a selection of associate degrees. Fort Hays has long been committed to a 'high-tech', 'high-touch' vision, which means a drive to integrate technology with human needs. The result is almost complete wireless access on campus and an array of online courses.

Washburn University

Founded in 1865 in Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University is a thriving public institution in the heart of the Midwest today. Washburn is ranked sixth in the Midwest among U.S. News and World Report master's level universities. There are currently 6,297 undergraduates enrolled at Washburn enjoying the small class sizes and intimate setting available at this institution. The university offers more than 200 academic programs ranging from certificates to professional degrees in business, law and nursing.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk
      • Career Diploma - Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Truck Maintenance
      • Career Diploma - Home Remodeling and Repair
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
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    4. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Maintenance AAS
    Certificate
      • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician Specialist
      • Automotive Technology
      • Wind Power Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Diesel Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
      • Masters in Social Work
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BA - General Management
      • BBA Human Resources Management
      • BBA Medical Services Management
      • BS Human & Social Services
      • General Management (GM) - BBA
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
      • AS - Business
      • AS - Criminal Justice
      • AS - Accounting
      • AS - Human Resources Specialist
      • AS - IT Networking
    Certificate
      • Business Assistant Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Services Diploma
      • Business - AAS
      • Business Assistant - Diploma
      • Criminal Justice and Security Svcs. - Diploma
      • Accounting Assistant Diploma
  • Campus and Online Programs
    8. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Science - Film Production
      • MS - Entertainment Business (Campus)
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Game Art Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Campus and Online Programs
    9. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Master's
      • M.A. Psychology
      • M.A. Behavioral Economics
      • M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • M.A. Forensic Psychology
      • M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: ARP Track
      • M.A. International Psychology
    Certificate
      • Suicide and Cyberbullying Prevention Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
      • Certificate in Forensic Psychology - M.A. Non-Licensure Track to Licensure Bridge Program
      • Certificate in Behavioral Economics
      • Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Certificate in Organizational Leadership
  • Manhattan, KS

    Kansas State University

Featured Schools

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

What is your highest level of education completed?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
  • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Universal Technical Institute

  • Aviation Maintenance AAS
  • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
  • Motorcycle Technician Specialist

What is your highest level of education completed?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Masters in Social Work

What is your highest level of education completed?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • BS in Psychology

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Bryant & Stratton College

  • BA - General Management
  • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
  • Business Assistant Diploma

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Full Sail University

  • Master of Science - Film Production
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

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