Washburn University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Washburn University is a public research university in Topeka, Kansas, serving roughly 4,562 students. Washburn University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $9,945 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,774 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,945
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,280 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,562 83.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 52.96%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 37.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 10.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 61.7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,131
- Room & Board: $11,501 annual estimate
Washburn University: what the data shows
Common questions about Washburn University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Washburn University?
Washburn University is located in Topeka, KS (ZIP 66621).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Washburn University public or private?
Washburn University is a Public institution.
How much does Washburn University cost?
Published tuition: $9,945 in-state, $20,949 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,280.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $20,310 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,693 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,758 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,922 |
| $110,001+ | $15,472 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $39,780.
How big is Washburn University?
Total enrollment: 4,562 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,131 students.
Graduate enrollment: 702 students.
About 84% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Washburn University?
150%-time completion rate: 52.96%.
First-year retention: 68.0%.
What do graduates of Washburn University earn?
Median earnings: $42,881 six years after entry; $49,774 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $18,127.
33.59% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Washburn University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (130 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (100 completions)
- Law (96 completions)
- Social Work (60 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (53 completions)
- Psychology, General (49 completions)
- 05.1091 (46 completions)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management (39 completions)
- Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist (39 completions)
- Finance, General (33 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Washburn University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 52.96%; median earnings $49,774 at 10 years; net price $15,280. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,945
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Washburn University was $9,945.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,280
2024 Value
In 2024 Washburn University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,280.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,120 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,280 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$39,780 4-Year In-State Tuition
$83,796 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$11,501 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$807 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$22,253 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$89,012 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Washburn University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
33.59% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.03% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Washburn University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Washburn University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,774 | $12,926 | $11,215 |
| 2014 | $6,038 | $13,526 | $11,505 |
| 2015 | $6,350 | $14,222 | $11,153 |
| 2016 | $7,754 | $17,386 | $11,455 |
| 2017 | $7,978 | $17,918 | $13,341 |
| 2018 | $8,312 | $18,560 | $13,683 |
| 2019 | $8,704 | $19,456 | $14,481 |
| 2020 | $8,762 | $19,766 | $14,339 |
| 2021 | $8,872 | $19,876 | $14,194 |
| 2022 | $9,154 | $20,438 | $11,793 |
| 2023 | $9,578 | $20,582 | $13,046 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Washburn University reported total enrollment of about 4,562 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 34% male and 66% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.1%), Hispanic or Latino (16.2%), and Black or African American (8.7%). About 33.59% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 37.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
83.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Washburn University in 2024 is 4,562 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,131 students. Graduate enrollment is about 702 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
68.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 59.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
27.56% 100% Completion Time
52.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 27.56% of students graduating from Washburn University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 16% male / 84% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 35% male / 65% female
- Law: 48% male / 52% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Washburn University.
Return on Investment
$18,127 Median Student Debt
$49,774 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
36.42% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
714.37% Return on Investment
3.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Washburn University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 84 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 130 completions
2. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 100 completions
3. Law: 96 completions
4. Social Work: 60 completions
5. Business Administration and Management, General: 53 completions
6. Psychology, General: 49 completions
7. 05.1091: 46 completions
8. Health/Health Care Administration/Management: 39 completions
9. Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist: 39 completions
Most popular programs at Washburn University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Washburn University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Washburn University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 61.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,816
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,422
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, KS, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Law. Enrollment is approximately 4,562 students. Student body composition includes White (59.1%), Hispanic or Latino (16.2%), Black or African American (8.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 52.96%. Approximately 33.59% of students receive Pell Grants. About 37.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Topeka, KS 66621
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 84 distinct degree programs, Washburn University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washburn University located?
Washburn University is located in Topeka, KS.
How much does Washburn University cost?
Reported tuition is $9,945 and average net price is $15,280 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,501 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Washburn University?
Washburn University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,131 students, White (59.1%), Hispanic or Latino (16.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Washburn University?
About 37.8% of students at Washburn University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Washburn University earn?
Median earnings are $42,881 six years after entry and $49,774 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Washburn University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 53.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Washburn University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,127.
Is Washburn University public or private?
Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, KS.
Is Washburn University an HBCU?
No. Washburn University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Washburn University a tribal college?
No. Washburn University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Washburn University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Washburn University does not meet that proxy (reported share 16.2%).
Is Washburn University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Washburn University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Kansas college costs
- Kansas colleges by ROI
- Topeka, Kansas city profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Kansas
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.