POPULATION (2021): 3 million
CAPITAL: Topeka
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN KANSAS: University of Kansas
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN KANSAS: Baker University
Kansas is about as central as you can get in the United States, and its major universities attract students from all across the country. It is landlocked, but there are several waterways for students to enjoy in the warm months, even if the closest spring break beach is 1,000 miles away. It has a variety of landscapes and shares borders with Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
Midwestern charm is very noticeable here, and the people are, indeed, very kind throughout the state. The food is highlighted by the world-famous Kansas BBQ joints, and no matter where you attend college you can rest assured a nice BBQ brisket won’t be far from your dorm. It’s also considered one of the most patriotic states in the country, and July 4th parties in Kansas are unrivaled.
There are no top-tier sports teams in Kansas in the “big 4” (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB), but locals love their college sports, even if they may not have attended Kansas State, the University of Kansas, or Witchita State (while smaller, they often make a run during March Madness basketball).
Universities in Kansas – 4-Year Colleges and Online
The three schools mentioned above are the largest 4-year colleges in Kansas, but several other options exist both in the private and public sectors. Here’s a look!
Public Universities in Kansas
Kansas is home to 6 full-service, 4-year universities that receive public funding. The two largest are the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and Kansas State University in Manhattan (not that one). The other four, 4-year public universities in Kansas are Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburgh State, and the aforementioned Witchita State.
Private Universities in Kansas
In addition to the public universities that are spread throughout the state, Kansas is also home to a handful of smaller, private universities that offer 4-year degrees. Some are religiously affiliated, and others are focused programs, such as The Art Institute of Kansas City.
Community Colleges in Kansas
Community colleges are in no short supply in Kansas, and many of them have more students enrolled than the private universities in the state. Offering certificates and 2-year programs, with a growing online community, here are the 5 largest community colleges in Kansas, though there is probably one close to wherever you call home:
- Johnson County Community College
- Butler Community College
- Kansas City Community College
- Hutchinson Community College
- Barton County Community College
Prominent Online Colleges in Kansas
All of the public universities offer online courses, many of which can be taken from one of the other state schools if not offered at the one a given student is attending regularly. Online colleges in Kansas offer an affordable alternative to students who don’t want to commute to school, or completely relocate.
Universities and Colleges in Witchita, KS
Kansas’ biggest city is a bit different than the rest of the state, which takes pride in its rural beauty and countless farms and orchards. It offers students the city life, but at a much more affordable cost than several other midwest cities (and much, much more affordable than coastal cities), but even with the tall buildings and concrete, there is still a cowboy-town feel about Witchita, which gives it a very unique charm. As far as colleges, the public university Wichita State is the largest school in town, but this growing city also has these 4-year universities and colleges:
- Friends University
- National American University
- Newman University
Get to Know Kansas
Students who attend college in Kansas get to experience 4 seasons, all of which offer a little something different. It does get pretty cold in the winter, even though Kansas is considered “the south” by some, and alternatively, it also gets very hot in the summer… luckily the ICEE was invented in Kansas, so cooling down is also something Kansas is very good at.
Wichita and Topeka are both large enough cities to offer students the full gamut of nightlife and entertainment, and both play host to several festivals in the spring and summer months.
The state is, indeed, very flat, but if you need a mountain fix, head next door to Colorado for spring break in the Rockies!
| Institution Name | City | State | Website | Degree Levels Offered | Modality | Profit Status (CNTLAFFI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County Community College | Iola | KS | www.allencc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Online | No |
| Baker University | Baldwin City | KS | www.bakeru.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Barclay College | Haviland | KS | www.barclaycollege.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Barton County Community College | Great Bend | KS | www.bartonccc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Bellus Academy | Manhattan | KS | www.bellusacademy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Benedictine College | Atchison | KS | www.benedictine.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Bethany College | Lindsborg | KS | www.bethanylb.edu | Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Bethel College-North Newton | North Newton | KS | www.bethelks.edu | Certificates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Butler Community College | El Dorado | KS | www.butlercc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson | KS | www.centralchristian.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Cleveland University-Kansas City | Overland Park | KS | www.cleveland.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Cloud County Community College | Concordia | KS | www.cloud.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Coffeyville Community College | Coffeyville | KS | www.coffeyville.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Colby Community College | Colby | KS | www.colbycc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Cowley County Community College | Arkansas City | KS | www.cowley.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Crave Beauty Academy | Wichita | KS | www.cravebeautyacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Dodge City Community College | Dodge City | KS | dc3.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Donnelly College | Kansas City | KS | www.donnelly.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Emporia State University | Emporia | KS | www.emporia.edu | Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics | Lenexa | KS | www.entouragebeauty.com | Certificates |
No | |
| Eric Fisher Academy | Wichita | KS | www.ericfisheracademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia | KS | www.fhtc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Hybrid | No |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays | KS | www.fhsu.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Fort Scott Community College | Fort Scott | KS | www.fortscott.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Friends University | Wichita | KS | www.friends.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Garden City Community College | Garden City | KS | www.gcccks.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Grantham University | Lenexa | KS | www.grantham.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Haskell Indian Nations University | Lawrence | KS | www.haskell.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Hays Academy of Hair Design | Hays | KS | www.haysacademy.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Hays Academy of Hair Design | Salina | KS | haysacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Hesston College | Hesston | KS | www.hesston.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Highland Community College | Highland | KS | www.highlandcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | KS | www.hutchcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Independence Community College | Independence | KS | www.indycc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | KS | www.jccc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Kansas Christian College | Overland Park | KS | www.kansaschristian.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | KS | www.kckcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan | KS | www.k-state.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina | KS | www.kwu.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Labette Community College | Parsons | KS | www.labette.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Manhattan Area Technical College | Manhattan | KS | manhattantech.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Manhattan Christian College | Manhattan | KS | www.mccks.edu | Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| McPherson College | McPherson | KS | www.mcpherson.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe | KS | www.mnu.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Midwest Barber College | Topeka | KS | www.midwestbarbercollege.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Mitsu Sato Hair Academy | Overland Park | KS | www.mitsusatohairacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Garden City | Garden City | KS | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Overland Park | Overland Park | KS | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| National American University-Wichita | Wichita | KS | www.national.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors |
Campus | No |
| Neosho County Community College | Chanute | KS | www.neosho.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Newman University | Wichita | KS | www.newmanu.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| North Central Kansas Technical College | Beloit | KS | www.ncktc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Northwest Kansas Technical College | Goodland | KS | www.nwktc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Old Town Barber College-Wichita | Wichita | KS | www.otbcollege.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Ottawa University-Kansas City | Overland Park | KS | www.ottawa.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Ottawa University-Online | Ottawa | KS | www.ottawa.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | Ottawa | KS | www.ottawa.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Overland Park | Overland Park | KS | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Wichita | Wichita | KS | paulmitchell.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg | KS | www.pittstate.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Pratt Community College | Pratt | KS | www.prattcc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Rasmussen College-Kansas | Topeka | KS | rasmussen.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters |
Online | No |
| Saint Paul School of Theology | Leawood | KS | www.spst.edu | Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Salina Area Technical College | Salina | KS | www.salinatech.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Seward County Community College | Liberal | KS | www.sccc.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Southwestern College | Winfield | KS | www.sckans.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Hybrid | No |
| Sterling College | Sterling | KS | www.sterling.edu | Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| Tabor College | Hillsboro | KS | tabor.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters |
Campus | No |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence | KS | ku.edu | Certificates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| University of Saint Mary | Leavenworth | KS | www.stmary.edu | Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Online | No |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | Topeka | KS | www.washburntech.edu | Certificates |
Campus | No |
| Washburn University | Topeka | KS | www.washburn.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence | Lawrence | KS | www.wellspring.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita | Wichita | KS | www.wellspring.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Wichita State University | Wichita | KS | www.wichita.edu | Certificates Associates Bachelors Masters Doctorate |
Campus | No |
| Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita | KS | www.wsutech.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Wichita Technical Institute | Wichita | KS | www.wti.edu | Certificates Associates |
Campus | No |
| Z Hair Academy | Overland Park | KS | www.zhairacademy.com | Certificates |
Campus | No |