2023 Best Value Schools in Kansas
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Our analysis looked at 41 schools in Kansas to see which programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Schools in Kansas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Johnson County Community College the best value school in Kansas for students working on their degree. JCCC is a fairly large public school situated in Overland Park, Kansas. It awarded 2,654 degrees in 2020-2021.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $16,311 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, JCCC graduates make an average of $42,711 annually.
JCCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Schools in Kansas list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cowley County Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Schools in Kansas list. Arkansas City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 828 students in 2020-2021.
Cowley College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,190 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,440 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Cowley College graduates make an average of $30,883 annually.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Kansas City Kansas Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. This small public school is located in Kansas City, Kansas, and it awarded 1,128 degrees in 2020-2021.
Kansas City Kansas Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,510 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,005 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Kansas City Kansas Community College graduates make an average of $34,587 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Hutchinson Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Hutchinson, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,537 students in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,470 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,967 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Hutchinson Community College graduates make an average of $38,555 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Garden City Community College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 594 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Garden City Community College are $4,020 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,836 in student loans.After graduating from Garden City Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,354 during the early years of their career.
Labette Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. This small public school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 202 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Labette Community College are $4,288 per year. On average, students take out $14,135 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Labette Community College graduates make an average of $39,899 annually.
Barton County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #7 on the list. Barton Community College is a public institution located in Great Bend, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 989 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Barton Community College are $4,544 a year. On average, students take out $15,719 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Barton Community College graduates make an average of $41,383 annually.
Seward County Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Seward County Community College is a small public school located in Liberal, Kansas that handed out 409 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCCC are $4,832 per year. On average, students take out $12,037 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SCCC graduates make an average of $53,776 annually.
Colby Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Colby, Kansas, the small public school awarded 398 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colby Community College are $5,553 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,067 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Colby Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,960 during the early year of their career.
Fort Hays State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,297 degrees to qualified students.
FHSU undergraduate students pay an average of $15,870 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,036 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $165 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from FHSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,454 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, FHSU is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in Kansas list.
Neosho County Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Chanute, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 820 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,224 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Neosho County Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,250 during the early years of their career.
Butler Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in El Dorado, Kansas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,416 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Butler CC are $5,976 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,822 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Butler CC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,089 during the early years of their career.
Dodge City Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Dodge City, Kansas, the small public school awarded 316 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Dodge City Community College are $4,830 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $10,121 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Dodge City Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,338 during the early years of their career.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. WSU Tech is located in Wichita, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,485 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WSU Tech are $6,875 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,570 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, WSU Tech graduates make an average of $40,673 annually.
Read full report on Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Flint Hills Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #15 on the list. Flint Hills Technical College is a small public school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 333 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Flint Hills Technical College are $7,032 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,748 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Flint Hills Technical College graduates make an average of $45,297 annually.
North Central Kansas Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #16 on the list. North Central Kansas Technical College is a very small public school located in Beloit, Kansas that handed out 435 degrees in 2020-2021.
North Central Kansas Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,692 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,130 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from North Central Kansas Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,770 during the early years of their career.
Grantham University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Lenexa, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,952 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Grantham University are $8,280 a year. On average, students take out $28,781 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Grantham University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $55,745 during the early year of their career.
Pittsburg State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,790 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Pitt State are $19,088 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,816 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Pitt State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,688 during the early years of their career.
Emporia State University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Emporia, Kansas, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,860 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ESU are $14,918 a year. On average, students take out $22,476 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $162, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ESU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,991 during the early years of their career.
Kansas State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. K -State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,030 degrees in 2020-2021.
K -State undergraduate students pay an average of $26,491 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,965 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $273 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from K -State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,255 during the early years of their career.
K -State did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Schools in Kansas list.
Wichita State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. This fairly large public school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 3,761 degrees in 2020-2021.
WSU undergraduate students pay an average of $18,165 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $26,875 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $142, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WSU graduates make an average of $45,743 annually.
University of Kansas ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,358 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at KU are $28,034 a year. On average, students take out $23,985 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $365. Once they receive their degree, KU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,693 during the early year of their career.
KU not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Schools in Kansas list.
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, the very small public school awarded 400 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $7,650 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,343 in student loans.After graduating from MATC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,709 during the early years of their career.
Washburn University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Topeka, Kansas, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,553 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Washburn University are $19,876 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,201 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $187 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Washburn University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,384 during the early years of their career.
Ottawa University - Online ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Kansas list. Ottawa University - Online is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Ottawa, Kansas that handed out 85 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Ottawa University - Online are $12,616 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $31,479 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Online graduates make an average of $48,214 annually.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Ottawa University - Online is ranked #4 for overall quality in Kansas.
Best Value Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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