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Wichita, Kansas skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Wichita

Wichita is home to five colleges, with about 22,000 students on campus

Wichita State University (12,533 students on campus) and Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (4,841) are inside the city. About 7% of Wichita’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kansas (7%).

Friends UniversityNewman UniversityWichita State UniversityWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

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 Wichita. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
21,834 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Kansas Health Science University
Residents in college
7%
About the same as KS (7%)
Nearest community college
8.3 mi
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology · $7,238 tuition
Nearest public university
3.7 mi
Wichita State · $9,684 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Wichita

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

Four colleges within 8.3 milesFriends University admits 55% of applicants; Newman University admits 74%; Wichita State University admits 94%. Together they have 21,607 students on campus.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 8.3 miles awayWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita: tuition and fees $7,238 a year for Kansas residents.Students are 7% 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 Wichita

Three private colleges within 2 miles, one public college within 3.7 miles, and Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology 8.3 miles away.

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

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 Wichita’s median household income ($64,620) falls.

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyIn Wichita · sticker $17,592 · tuition $7,238$8,880a year
Wichita State UniversityIn Wichita · sticker $21,780$13,564a year
Newman UniversityIn Wichita · sticker $46,489$21,234a year
Friends UniversityIn Wichita · sticker $50,482$25,517a 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 Wichita: 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 →Friends UniversityNewman UniversityWichita StateWichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
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.

Majors

What students study in Wichita

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Wichita’s 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 17%Business 15%Education 9%Liberal arts 9%Engineering 7%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 38%

Biggest programs

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsWichita State University · 239 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsWichita State University · 126 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingWichita State University · 125 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralWichita State University · 109 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringWichita State University · 79 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesWichita State University · 77 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesWichita State University · 76 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsWichita State University · 73 graduates a year
$51k4 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 Wichita

Is Wichita a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Wichita residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The largest campus in the city, Wichita State University, has 12,533 students on campus.

What colleges are in Wichita?

Wichita State University, Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, Newman University, Friends University and 1 more are inside the city.

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

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita, 8.3 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 Wichita. 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 →