Kansas City, Kansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Kansas City, Kansas: median public in-state tuition $6,825 (+23.8% vs national median) median graduate debt $10,318 (-22.3% vs U.S.) 3,714 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,714 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $6,825 (+23.8% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,110 (+41.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,318 (-22.3% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 45.8%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Kansas City serve students across Kansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,714 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $6,825. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Kansas City, Kansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Kansas City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, Kansas | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 |
| Kansas (state median) | $4,260 | $9,905 | $10,500 | 47.0% | 130,768 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Kansas City, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, Kansas | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas (state median) | $52,644 | 91.8% | 65.8% | 6.0% | — | 75.1% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, Kansas | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 | N/A | N/A |
| 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% |
| Hays | $5,923 | $13,590 | $15,416 | 47.7% | 9,816 | $48,928 | 88.6% |
| Topeka | $9,945 | $15,280 | $19,513 | 49.2% | 5,536 | $49,774 | 89.8% |
| Emporia | $6,753 | $16,139 | $13,062 | 56.1% | 2,591 | $47,601 | 91.9% |
| Salina | $20,879 | $14,418 | $9,833 | 48.6% | 1,332 | $51,152 | 95.5% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Kansas City, Kansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Kansas City, Kansas median in-state tuition is $6,825, +23.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Kansas City, Kansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Kansas City, Kansas is $10,318 (-22.3% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
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
Kansas City, Kansas median public in-state tuition is $6,825, about +23.8% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +9.6%.
Median graduate debt is $10,318 (-22.3% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Kansas City, Kansas is 45.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Kansas City?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Kansas City, Kansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Kansas City?
Median in-state tuition in Kansas City is $6,825 and median net price is $14,110. For Kansas overall, medians are $4,260 and $9,905; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Kansas City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Kansas City is N/A vs $52,644 for Kansas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Kansas City colleges?
Median completer debt in Kansas City is $10,318 vs $10,500 for Kansas and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Kansas City?
Among 2 campuses in Kansas City, Kansas, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Donnelly College and Kansas City Kansas Community College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- Kansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON