Lawrence, Kansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lawrence, Kansas: median public in-state tuition $6,351 (+15.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $61,945 (+13.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S.) 22,232 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 22,232 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $6,351 (+15.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $61,945 (+13.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.5% (+4.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,143 (+51.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 43.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 86.5%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Lawrence serve students across Kansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 22,232 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $6,351. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lawrence, Kansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, Kansas | $6,351 | $15,143 | $14,458 | 43.4% | 22,232 |
| 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: Lawrence, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, Kansas | $61,945 | 92.5% | 86.5% | 5.1% | — | 77.1% | 0.34 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, Kansas | $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% |
| Kansas City | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas City | $6,825 | $14,110 | $10,318 | 45.8% | 3,714 | N/A | N/A |
| Emporia | $6,753 | $16,139 | $13,062 | 56.1% | 2,591 | $47,601 | 91.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Lawrence, 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, 68.8%, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, 92.5%, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Most selective college in Lawrence, Kansas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 93.5%, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $81,330, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $125,384, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $51,217, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $57,994, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $61,945, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, $195,436, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Most affordable college in Lawrence, 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, $18,059, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
Top college in Lawrence, 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, 86.5%, University of Kansas
University of Kansas
In-state tuition: Lawrence, Kansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lawrence, Kansas median in-state tuition is $6,351, +15.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lawrence, Kansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lawrence, Kansas is $14,458 (+8.9% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lawrence, Kansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lawrence, Kansas center around $61,945 (+13.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lawrence, Kansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.5% at the median Lawrence, Kansas campus (+4.5 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
Lawrence, Kansas median public in-state tuition is $6,351, about +15.2% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +2.0%.
Median graduate debt is $14,458 (+8.9% above 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.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lawrence, Kansas are $61,945, about +13.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+4.5 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 86.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.1% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Kansas (92.5%)—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 Lawrence, Kansas is 43.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lawrence?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Lawrence, Kansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lawrence?
Median in-state tuition in Lawrence is $6,351 and median net price is $15,143. For Kansas overall, medians are $4,260 and $9,905; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lawrence?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lawrence is $61,945 vs $52,644 for Kansas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lawrence colleges?
Median completer debt in Lawrence is $14,458 vs $10,500 for Kansas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lawrence?
Top campuses on this page include University of Kansas (graduation) and University of Kansas (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lawrence?
Among 3 campuses in Lawrence, Kansas, 1 tribal college (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Haskell Indian Nations University.
Sources & related
- Kansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON