Washburn Institute of Technology
Topeka, KS 66604
About Washburn Institute of Technology
Washburn Institute of Technology is a public certificate and vocational school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling about 615 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $8,607 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $8,880. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,774 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Washburn Institute of Technology charges 61% above the national public median tuition ($8,880).
- Versus the Kansas median, sticker tuition is 4% below.
- Average net price runs below the Kansas median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 67.66%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,774.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Washburn Institute of Technology is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1346% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Institute of Technology | $8,880 | $8,607 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Kansas (state median) | $9,282 | $9,905 | 60 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 3% below published tuition at Washburn Institute of Technology
Key findings
- Washburn Institute of Technology's average net price ($8,607) is 3% below published tuition ($8,880).
- Washburn Institute of Technology charges 61% above the national public median tuition ($8,880).
- Versus the Kansas median, sticker tuition is 4% below.
- Average net price runs below the Kansas median net price.
Washburn Institute of Technology tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,880
Finding Washburn Institute of Technology charges 61% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,880. That is 61% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Kansas median ($9,282), sticker tuition is 4% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 25% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Washburn Institute of Technology versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Washburn Institute of Technology versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Washburn Institute of Technology is $8,607.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $8,607 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,298 below the Kansas median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $9,441 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Washburn Institute of Technology’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 3% lower after grants and scholarships.
Washburn Institute of Technology: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Washburn Institute of Technology—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$8,880
Avg. net price
$8,607
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $7,114 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,496 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,645 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,082 |
| $110,001+ | $14,051 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $35,520. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Washburn Institute of Technology is known for
Top program completions
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide168
- Welding Technology/Welder126
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician87
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)57
- Electrician52
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 77% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Washburn Institute of Technology a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Washburn Institute of Technology is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Washburn Institute of Technology.
Campus
Location
Topeka, KS
City / state
- ZIP
- 66604
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is about 0.5× the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Plains
Size
Enrollment
615
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,911
- Full-time share
- 72%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,127
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 13.48%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Washburn Institute of Technology.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Washburn Institute of Technology 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 Institute of Technology 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 | $4,608 | $4,608 | $12,285 |
| 2014 | $4,944 | $4,944 | $9,570 |
| 2015 | $5,568 | $5,568 | $10,087 |
| 2016 | $6,192 | $6,192 | $11,741 |
| 2017 | $6,912 | $6,912 | $10,724 |
| 2018 | $7,632 | $7,632 | $10,942 |
| 2019 | $7,824 | $7,824 | $11,923 |
| 2020 | $8,160 | $8,160 | $11,523 |
| 2021 | $8,323 | $8,323 | $12,458 |
| 2022 | $9,360 | $9,360 | $11,880 |
| 2023 | $9,120 | $9,120 | $12,943 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Washburn Institute of Technology reported total enrollment of about 615 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 58% male and 42% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.3%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%), and Black or African American (11.2%). About 13.48% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 37.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
71.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Washburn Institute of Technology in 2024 is 615 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,911 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.0%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
67.66% 100% Completion Time
67.66% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 67.66% of students graduating from Washburn Institute of Technology completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 12% male / 88% female
- Welding Technology/Welder: 86% male / 14% female
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician: 70% male / 30% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Washburn Institute of Technology graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Washburn Institute of Technology.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,774. Median federal loan debt: $18,127. Average net price used in cost models: $8,607.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Washburn Institute of Technology graduates report median earnings of $49,774 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Washburn Institute of Technology.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (30 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Washburn Institute of Technology.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Washburn Institute of Technology graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Washburn Institute of Technology—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,557
- Kansas median near the median ($6,600)
- Plains median 0.80× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 0.90× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Washburn Institute of Technology at a glance
Washburn Institute of Technology
Washburn Institute of Technology is a public institution in Topeka, KS.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/AideWelding Technology/WelderManufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian53.3%Hispanic or Latino17.4%Black or African American11.2%
Schools near Washburn Institute of Technology
Other campuses in Topeka, KS when available, plus nearby institutions in Kansas.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Kansas, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washburn Institute of Technology located?
Washburn Institute of Technology is located in Topeka, KS.
What is Washburn Institute of Technology's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Washburn Institute of Technology is 40.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 670 applicants and 273 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Washburn Institute of Technology's tuition?
Washburn Institute of Technology tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,880 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $8,607 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Washburn Institute of Technology cost?
Reported tuition is $8,880 and average net price is $8,607 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,501 annually.
Why is Washburn Institute of Technology's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Washburn Institute of Technology, published tuition is $8,880 while average net price is $8,607—about 3% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Washburn Institute of Technology's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($8,607), completion (67.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($49,774). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Washburn Institute of Technology?
Washburn Institute of Technology reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,911 students, White (53.3%), Hispanic or Latino (17.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Washburn Institute of Technology?
About 37.8% of students at Washburn Institute of Technology are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Washburn Institute of Technology earn?
Median earnings are $42,881 six years after entry and $49,774 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Washburn Institute of Technology?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Washburn Institute of Technology students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,127.
Is Washburn Institute of Technology public or private?
Washburn Institute of Technology is a public institution located in Topeka, KS.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.