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Lawrence, KS August 2025Photo: Shannon Beat · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Lawrence

Lawrence is a college town: 24 of every 100 residents are students

The University of Kansas (25,546 students on campus) and Haskell Indian Nations University (843) are inside the city. Across Kansas, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town24% of residents are studentsUniversity of Kansas

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lawrence. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
27,690 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
University of Kansas
Residents in college
24%
Above KS (7%)
Nearest community college
29 mi
Johnson County · $2,424 tuition
Nearest public university
1 mi
University of Kansas · $12,102 in-state
Students on campus in Lawrence
26,389
next to 96,367 residents

What stands out about college in Lawrence

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town24 of every 100 Lawrence residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Kansas.A university in LawrenceThe University of Kansas has 25,546 students on campus in Lawrence, 69% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of KansasLiving in Kansas, the University of Kansas charges $12,102 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $30,432. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 29 miles awayJohnson County Community College in Overland Park: tuition and fees $2,424 a year for Kansas residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Lawrence

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

25 of every 100 Lawrence residents are in college (KS: 7).

26,389students on campus at Lawrence’s 2 colleges, next to 96,367 residents (dorm students count as residents)
16,585college students live in Lawrence households rather than dorms
29.3median age · KS 37.4
51%of residents are women · KS 50% (±0.5 points)
56%of homes rented · KS 33%
$1,091median rent · 3% above the state
LawrenceLawrence, KS
Cost of living$1,091/mo median rentC−SafetyCrime reported to the FBICHealthCDC estimatesA−Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Lawrence’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 17.5% of Lawrence residents are below the poverty line, 9.0% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 53% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living C−

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 24%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health A−

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Lawrence’s median age is 29.3 (Kansas 37.4), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety C

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lawrence

One private college within 13.2 miles, and two public colleges within 2.3 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of KansasBaker UniversityHaskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrence
University or collegeCommunity college
University of KansasUniversity or college · Public · 25,546 on campus · In Lawrence93%admitted$18knet price69%graduate$62kearningsHaskell Indian Nations UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 843 on campus · In Lawrence90%admitted$3knet price18%graduate$37kearningsBaker UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,301 on campus · 13.2 mi · Baldwin City94%admitted$25knet price58%graduate$64kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Lawrence’s median household income ($65,009) falls.

Haskell Indian Nations UniversityIn Lawrence · sticker $9,581$3,061a year
University of KansasIn Lawrence · sticker $26,751$15,154a year
Baker University13.2 mi · Baldwin City · sticker $50,918$23,470a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lawrence: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of KansasHaskell Indian Nations UniversityBaker University
University of Kansas69% graduate$62k earnings$21k typical debt
Baker University58% graduate$64k earnings$25k typical debt
Haskell Indian Nations University18% graduate$37k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Lawrence

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lawrence’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 23%Health professions 9%Engineering 8%Psychology 8%Parks & recreation 6%Communication 6%Everything else 40%

Biggest programs

Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Kansas · 291 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Kansas · 206 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
JournalismUniversity of Kansas · 203 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessUniversity of Kansas · 201 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Kansas · 191 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Kansas · 188 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralUniversity of Kansas · 149 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralUniversity of Kansas · 138 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lawrence

Is Lawrence a college town?

Yes. 24 of every 100 Lawrence residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across Kansas. The University of Kansas has 25,546 students on campus, next to 96,367 residents.

What colleges are in Lawrence?

The University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University are inside the city. Johnson County Community College is 29 miles away in Overland Park.

Why is Lawrence’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 17.5% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 9.0% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).

What is the closest community college to Lawrence, and what does it cost?

Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, 29 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,424 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $14,176, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into the University of Kansas?

The University of Kansas admitted 93% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,070–1,300 on the SAT.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lawrence. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →