Topeka, Kansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Topeka, Kansas shows: median public in-state tuition $9,945 (+80.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $49,774 (-8.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,513 (+45.3% vs U.S.) 5,536 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,536 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $9,945 (+80.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,774 (-8.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.8% (+1.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,280 (+53.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,513 (+45.3% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 49.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 68.0%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Topeka, Kansas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Kansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Topeka vs Kansas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, Kansas | $9,945 | $15,280 | $19,513 | 49.2% | 5,536 |
| Kansas (state median) | $4,260 | $9,905 | $11,171 | 46.6% | 130,768 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Topeka, Kansas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, Kansas | $49,774 | 89.8% | 68.0% | 10.9% | — | 66.1% | 0.36 |
| Kansas (state median) | $53,175 | 91.9% | 65.6% | 6.0% | — | 74.5% | 0.41 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Kansas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, Kansas | $9,945 | $15,280 | $19,513 | 49.2% | 5,536 | $49,774 | 89.8% |
| Lawrence | $6,351 | $15,143 | $14,458 | 43.4% | 22,232 | $61,945 | 92.5% |
| Wichita | $16,364 | $17,847 | $13,000 | 51.0% | 17,300 | $52,113 | 91.9% |
| Manhattan | $11,221 | $21,810 | $15,375 | 57.7% | 15,839 | $57,262 | 93.0% |
| Overland Park | $13,296 | $16,828 | $11,166 | 42.9% | 12,547 | $55,552 | 88.6% |
| Salina | $20,879 | $14,418 | $9,833 | 48.6% | 1,332 | $51,152 | 95.5% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 53.0%, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.8%, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,318, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $80,436, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,881, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,837, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,774, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $165,426, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Topeka, Kansas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,280, Washburn University
Washburn University
Top 10 colleges in Topeka, Kansas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 68.0%, Washburn University
Washburn University
In-state tuition: Topeka, Kansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Topeka, Kansas median in-state tuition is $9,945, +80.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Topeka, Kansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Topeka, Kansas is $19,513 (+45.3% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Topeka, Kansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Topeka, Kansas center around $49,774 (-8.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Topeka, Kansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.8% at the median Topeka, Kansas campus (+1.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Topeka, Kansas median public in-state tuition is $9,945, about +80.4% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +59.8%.
Median graduate debt is $19,513 (+45.3% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Topeka, Kansas are $49,774, about -8.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 89.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+1.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 68.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 10.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 66.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Washburn University (89.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Topeka, Kansas is 49.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Topeka?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 4 campuses in Topeka, Kansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Topeka?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Topeka is $9,945 and median net price is $15,280. For Kansas overall, medians are $4,260 and $9,905; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Topeka?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Topeka is $49,774 vs $53,175 for Kansas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Topeka colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Topeka is $19,513 vs $11,171 for Kansas and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Topeka?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Washburn University (graduation) and Washburn University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Topeka?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 4 College Scorecard campuses in Topeka, Kansas, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Kansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON