State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Kansas
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 71 Kansas colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $3,134
- Cheapest net price
- $15,280
- Kansas median
- 71
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Haskell Indian Nations University has the lowest average net price in Kansas at $3,134/year, and the state's median net price is 11% below the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.
- $3,134
- cheapest ranked net price
- $15,280
- Kansas median net price
- 34 public / 37 private
- schools in this ranking
- $14,419
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Tabor College, where in-state published tuition of $36,200 falls to an average net price of $20,205 after aid, a $15,995 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Kansas schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 71 ranked Kansas schools, 34 are public institutions and 37 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Kansas's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haskell Indian Nations University Lawrence, KS · Public | $3,134 91% of the leader · rank #1 | $3,007 | - | $28,425 | 878 |
| 2 | Independence Community College Independence, KS · Public | $3,265 91% of the leader · rank #2 | $2,934 | $6,115 | $29,674 | 821 |
| 3 | Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS · Public | $4,068 89% of the leader · rank #3 | $2,072 | $8,800 | $35,682 | 1,757 |
| 4 | Coffeyville Community College Coffeyville, KS · Public | $4,957 86% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,793 | $8,103 | $30,267 | 1,428 |
| 5 | Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS · Public | $5,586 84% of the leader · rank #5 | $3,140 | $9,500 | $30,641 | 1,464 |
| 6 | Labette Community College Parsons, KS · Public | $5,939 83% of the leader · rank #6 | $4,578 | $10,500 | $35,424 | 1,454 |
| 7 | Salina Area Technical College Salina, KS · Public | $6,468 82% of the leader · rank #7 | $6,078 | $7,000 | $39,065 | 1,007 |
| 8 | Seward County Community College Liberal, KS · Public | $6,717 81% of the leader · rank #8 | $6,581 | $6,500 | $37,298 | 1,787 |
| 9 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS · Public | $6,727 81% of the leader · rank #9 | $5,584 | $9,773 | $36,892 | 4,983 |
| 10 | Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS · Public | $7,175 80% of the leader · rank #10 | $6,305 | $8,000 | $33,469 | 2,158 |
| 11 | Colby Community College Colby, KS · Public | $7,886 78% of the leader · rank #11 | $7,707 | $8,908 | $38,878 | 1,375 |
| 12 | Garden City Community College Garden City, KS · Public | $8,244 77% of the leader · rank #12 | $6,672 | $6,500 | $34,493 | 1,904 |
| 13 | Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS · Public | $8,607 76% of the leader · rank #13 | $7,114 | $18,127 | $42,881 | 1,187 |
| 14 | Allen County Community College Iola, KS · Public | $8,642 76% of the leader · rank #14 | $8,454 | $6,954 | $36,480 | 1,817 |
| 15 | Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS · Public | $8,805 75% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,043 | $9,500 | $37,617 | 5,655 |
| 16 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $8,925 75% of the leader · rank #16 | $8,368 | $7,917 | $28,506 | 67 |
| 17 | Pratt Community College Pratt, KS · Public | $9,731 73% of the leader · rank #17 | $8,836 | $6,500 | $44,798 | 1,153 |
| 18 | Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS · Public | $9,905 72% of the leader · rank #18 | $10,020 | $9,501 | $36,095 | 4,393 |
| 19 | Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS · Public | $10,074 72% of the leader · rank #19 | $12,767 | $9,500 | $44,928 | 968 |
| 20 | Neosho County Community College Chanute, KS · Public | $10,271 71% of the leader · rank #20 | $8,273 | $8,500 | $36,917 | 1,783 |
| 21 | Highland Community College Highland, KS · Public | $10,454 71% of the leader · rank #21 | $7,552 | $8,277 | $35,580 | 2,182 |
| 22 | Central Christian College of Kansas Mcpherson, KS · Private nonprofit | $11,404 68% of the leader · rank #22 | $11,689 | $27,000 | $37,685 | 455 |
| 23 | Donnelly College Kansas City, KS · Private nonprofit | $11,476 68% of the leader · rank #23 | $10,542 | $11,842 | $34,791 | 349 |
| 24 | Cloud County Community College Concordia, KS · Public | $11,685 67% of the leader · rank #24 | $9,990 | $8,000 | $34,705 | 1,644 |
| 25 | North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit, KS · Public | $12,393 65% of the leader · rank #25 | $9,386 | $10,000 | $41,498 | 957 |
See all 71 ranked Kansas schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS · Public | $12,569 65% of the leader · rank #26 | $7,661 | $21,000 | $44,428 | 12,843 |
| 27 | Northwest Kansas Technical College Goodland, KS · Public | $13,074 63% of the leader · rank #27 | $11,447 | $12,000 | $36,392 | 725 |
| 28 | Wichita State University Wichita, KS · Public | $13,194 63% of the leader · rank #28 | $9,734 | $20,500 | $44,043 | 16,741 |
| 29 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS · Public | $14,176 60% of the leader · rank #29 | $12,403 | $8,750 | $39,003 | 17,121 |
| 30 | Mitsu Sato Hair Academy Overland Park, KS · Private for-profit | $14,330 60% of the leader · rank #30 | $14,330 | $9,500 | $22,182 | 97 |
| 31 | Hays Academy of Hair Design Salina, KS · Private for-profit | $14,418 60% of the leader · rank #31 | $13,056 | $9,833 | $24,139 | 49 |
| 32 | Eric Fisher Academy Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $14,603 59% of the leader · rank #32 | $10,997 | $9,339 | $23,414 | 178 |
| 33 | Hays Academy of Hair Design Hays, KS · Private for-profit | $14,612 59% of the leader · rank #33 | $13,947 | $9,833 | $24,139 | 74 |
| 34 | Old Town Barber College-Wichita Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $15,111 58% of the leader · rank #34 | $15,111 | $13,000 | $14,124 | 94 |
| 35 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence Lawrence, KS · Private for-profit | $15,143 58% of the leader · rank #35 | $14,637 | $7,917 | $28,506 | 36 |
| 36 | Washburn University Topeka, KS · Public | $15,280 57% of the leader · rank #36 | $20,310 | $18,127 | $42,881 | 5,663 |
| 37 | Kansas Christian College Overland Park, KS · Private nonprofit | $15,313 57% of the leader · rank #37 | $13,652 | - | - | 143 |
| 38 | Butler Community College El Dorado, KS · Public | $15,724 56% of the leader · rank #38 | $13,485 | $10,500 | $35,102 | 6,552 |
| 39 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS · Public | $15,784 56% of the leader · rank #39 | $11,968 | $18,969 | $43,793 | 5,722 |
| 40 | Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KS · Public | $16,017 55% of the leader · rank #40 | $16,611 | $6,625 | $43,014 | 1,639 |
| 41 | Emporia State University Emporia, KS · Public | $16,261 55% of the leader · rank #41 | $11,452 | $19,500 | $41,389 | 4,658 |
| 42 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS · Public | $16,744 53% of the leader · rank #42 | $16,375 | $8,793 | $34,617 | 4,803 |
| 43 | Paul Mitchell the School-Wichita Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $17,847 50% of the leader · rank #43 | $17,847 | $9,833 | $21,016 | 172 |
| 44 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS · Public | $18,059 50% of the leader · rank #44 | $12,544 | $21,000 | $51,217 | 28,406 |
| 45 | Paul Mitchell the School-Overland Park Overland Park, KS · Private for-profit | $18,343 49% of the leader · rank #45 | $18,343 | $9,833 | $25,569 | 189 |
| 46 | Wichita Technical Institute Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $18,793 47% of the leader · rank #46 | $18,311 | $13,000 | $29,006 | 866 |
| 47 | Z Hair Academy Lawrence, KS · Private for-profit | $18,893 47% of the leader · rank #47 | $16,821 | $9,833 | $18,889 | 307 |
| 48 | Crave Beauty Academy Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $19,183 46% of the leader · rank #48 | $17,696 | $7,917 | $23,192 | 355 |
| 49 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS · Public | $19,406 46% of the leader · rank #49 | $13,178 | $21,250 | $49,330 | 19,745 |
| 50 | Newman University Wichita, KS · Private nonprofit | $19,971 44% of the leader · rank #50 | $18,060 | $20,801 | $47,051 | 2,787 |
| 51 | Heartland Welding Academy Andover, KS · Private for-profit | $20,194 44% of the leader · rank #51 | $18,843 | - | - | 34 |
| 52 | Tabor College Hillsboro, KS · Private nonprofit | $20,205 44% of the leader · rank #52 | $17,884 | $23,887 | $42,896 | 664 |
| 53 | Sterling College Sterling, KS · Private nonprofit | $22,371 37% of the leader · rank #53 | $19,068 | $24,625 | $40,722 | 707 |
| 54 | University of Saint Mary Leavenworth, KS · Private nonprofit | $22,519 37% of the leader · rank #54 | $21,899 | $22,018 | $54,827 | 1,414 |
| 55 | Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KS · Private nonprofit | $22,671 37% of the leader · rank #55 | $18,192 | $23,250 | $44,811 | 951 |
| 56 | Rasmussen University-Kansas Topeka, KS · Private for-profit | $23,980 33% of the leader · rank #56 | $24,225 | $20,899 | $41,436 | 333 |
| 57 | Manhattan Christian College Manhattan, KS · Private nonprofit | $24,213 32% of the leader · rank #57 | $23,218 | $24,250 | $40,023 | 145 |
| 58 | Baker University Baldwin City, KS · Private nonprofit | $25,301 29% of the leader · rank #58 | $21,057 | $25,000 | $54,747 | 1,945 |
| 59 | Hesston College Hesston, KS · Private nonprofit | $26,299 26% of the leader · rank #59 | $20,762 | $12,000 | $46,707 | 308 |
| 60 | McPherson College Mcpherson, KS · Private nonprofit | $26,441 26% of the leader · rank #60 | $22,587 | $25,242 | $41,446 | 788 |
| 61 | Bellus Academy Manhattan, KS · Private for-profit | $26,631 26% of the leader · rank #61 | $26,263 | $7,917 | $23,546 | 223 |
| 62 | Bethany College Lindsborg, KS · Private nonprofit | $27,686 23% of the leader · rank #62 | $22,561 | $23,250 | $40,805 | 637 |
| 63 | Friends University Wichita, KS · Private nonprofit | $27,715 23% of the leader · rank #63 | $21,714 | $25,000 | $42,960 | 1,927 |
| 64 | Benedictine College Atchison, KS · Private nonprofit | $27,891 22% of the leader · rank #64 | $22,032 | $24,599 | $45,000 | 2,465 |
| 65 | Ottawa University-Ottawa Ottawa, KS · Private nonprofit | $27,963 22% of the leader · rank #65 | $22,449 | $21,500 | $49,139 | 1,055 |
| 66 | Barclay College Haviland, KS · Private nonprofit | $29,290 18% of the leader · rank #66 | $27,180 | $27,000 | $35,820 | 187 |
| 67 | Galen Health Institutes-Wichita Wichita, KS · Private for-profit | $29,785 17% of the leader · rank #67 | $30,674 | $24,166 | $58,951 | 97 |
| 68 | Southwestern College Winfield, KS · Private nonprofit | $29,824 17% of the leader · rank #68 | $26,294 | $25,000 | $48,034 | 1,139 |
| 69 | MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS · Private nonprofit | $32,165 10% of the leader · rank #69 | $28,842 | $15,000 | $57,433 | 1,539 |
| 70 | Bethel College-North Newton North Newton, KS · Private nonprofit | $32,917 8% of the leader · rank #70 | $35,147 | $24,000 | $40,808 | 502 |
| 71 | Cleveland University-Kansas City Overland Park, KS · Private nonprofit | $35,764 4% of the leader · rank #71 | - | $12,500 | - | 588 |
What this means for you
Use Kansas's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Haskell Indian Nations University reports the lowest average net price in Kansas, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Haskell Indian Nations
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Kansas safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.