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Colleges in and near Valley Center

Wichita State University is 8.9 miles from Valley Center

No college sits inside Valley Center’s boundary, but Wichita State University’s campus in Wichita, with 12,533 students on campus, is 8.9 miles from the center of town, and Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is 9.4 miles away in Wichita. About 5% of Valley Center’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kansas (7%).

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 Valley Center. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
21,834 students on campus
Nearest college
8.9 mi
Wichita State
Residents in college
5%
About the same as KS (7%)
Nearest community college
9.4 mi
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology · $7,238 tuition
Nearest public university
8.9 mi
Wichita State · $9,684 in-state
Median household income
$77K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Valley Center

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

A university 8.9 miles awayWichita State University has 12,533 students on campus in Wichita, 51% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Wichita StateLiving in Kansas, Wichita State University charges $9,684 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,869. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 9.4 miles awayWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita: tuition and fees $7,238 a year for Kansas residents.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Kansas (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Valley Center

Three private colleges within 11.1 miles, one public college within 8.9 miles, and Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology 9.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWichita StateNewman UniversityValley Center
University or collegeCommunity college
Wichita State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 12,533 on campus · 8.9 mi · Wichita94%admitted$13knet price51%graduate$52kearningsWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyCommunity college · Public · 4,841 on campus · 9.4 mi · Wichita$9knet price43%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $7,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Kansas Health Science UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 227 on campus · 10.3 mi · WichitaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Friends UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,701 on campus · 10.7 mi · Wichita55%admitted$28knet price43%graduate$52kearningsNewman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,532 on campus · 11.1 mi · Wichita74%admitted$20knet price53%graduate$55kearnings

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 $75–110k, where Valley Center’s median household income ($77,020) falls.

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology9.4 mi · Wichita · sticker $17,592 · tuition $7,238$12,099a year
Wichita State University8.9 mi · Wichita · sticker $21,780$16,893a year
Newman University11.1 mi · Wichita · sticker $46,489$17,142a year
Friends University10.7 mi · Wichita · sticker $50,482$29,377a 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 Valley Center: 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 →Wichita StateWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyFriends UniversityNewman University
Wichita State University51% graduate$52k earnings$20k typical debt
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology43% graduate$39k earnings$10k typical debt
Newman University53% graduate$55k earnings$21k typical debt
Friends University43% graduate$52k earnings$25k typical debt

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.

Questions about college near Valley Center

Is Valley Center a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Valley Center residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The nearest campus, Wichita State University, is 8.9 miles away in Wichita.

What colleges are near Valley Center?

Within 15 miles: Wichita State University (8.9 miles, 12,533 students on campus), Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (9.4 miles, 4,841), Kansas Health Science University (10.3 miles, 227), Friends University (10.7 miles, 1,701) and Newman University (11.1 miles, 2,532).

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

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita, 9.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,238 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $8,805, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Wichita State University cost if we live in Kansas?

Tuition and fees are $9,684 a year in-state and $19,869 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,734 (under $30,000 income) to $19,184 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Valley Center. 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 →