Best Online Colleges in Kansas

The higher education experts at BestColleges have reviewed top online colleges in Kansas. Start planning your future at BestColleges.

Updated October 3, 2024

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The Kansas Department of Labor projects that employment in the state will grow by 4.3% from 2016 to 2026, adding roughly 64,000 new jobs. Just two industries in Kansas, business services and education and health services, will likely account for close to 90% of all economic growth during this period. However, the manufacturing industry in the state should experience a loss of more than 11,000 positions during those years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage in Kansas was $45,280 in 2018. However, individuals with higher levels of education can often earn considerably more. For example, that same year, general and operations managers earned an average salary of $97,920, and financial managers made an average of $129,660. Both of these roles require at least a bachelor’s degree, though some employers may prefer to hire candidates with a master’s.

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Continuing your education can give you a competitive edge in the job market, but it can often be difficult to balance your studies with other professional or personal responsibilities. Online programs, however, give students the flexibility they need to advance in their careers. In many programs, online students can review course materials, engage with their classmates and instructor, and complete assignments on their own schedule and from their own homes.

Our ranking of the best online colleges in Kansas will help you find the program that best suits your unique academic interests and professional aspirations. For each of the schools profiled below, we provide information on things like admission requirements, available programs of study, and financial aid opportunities. We also indicate whether classes are delivered asynchronously or students must log in to their virtual classroom at set times each week.

All of the colleges on this list hold regional accreditation, an important indicator of academic quality.

In this Article

Best Online Colleges in Kansas

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$9,632

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,944

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

80%

Acceptance Rate

49%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,018

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

19,745

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,632

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,944

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,632

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,944

Acceptance Rate

80%

Online Enrollment

49%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,018

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

19,745

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$4,140

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,580

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

88%

Acceptance Rate

61%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,729

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,602

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

12,949

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,140

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,580

Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,140

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,580

Acceptance Rate

88%

Online Enrollment

61%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,729

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,602

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

12,949

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$10,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$27,500

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

88%

Acceptance Rate

46%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,989

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,951

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

28,406

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,500

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,500

Acceptance Rate

88%

Online Enrollment

46%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,989

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,951

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

28,406

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Emporia State University

Emporia, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$5,542

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,855

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

98%

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,547

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,368

Retention Rate

68%

Students Enrolled

4,658

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,542

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,855

Emporia State University

Emporia, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,542

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,855

Acceptance Rate

98%

Online Enrollment

74%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,547

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,368

Retention Rate

68%

Students Enrolled

4,658

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$7,247

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,165

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

62%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,544

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,615

Retention Rate

69%

Students Enrolled

17,548

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,247

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,165

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,247

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,165

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,544

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,615

Retention Rate

69%

Students Enrolled

17,548

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Newman University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$32,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

51%

Acceptance Rate

26%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,920

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,920

Retention Rate

69%

Students Enrolled

2,848

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,400

Newman University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,400

Acceptance Rate

51%

Online Enrollment

26%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,920

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,920

Retention Rate

69%

Students Enrolled

2,848

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$6,840

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,912

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

93%

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,820

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,652

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

5,732

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,840

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,912

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,840

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,912

Acceptance Rate

93%

Online Enrollment

74%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,820

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,652

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

5,732

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$29,980

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,980

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

26%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,892

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,892

Retention Rate

57%

Students Enrolled

953

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,980

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,980

Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,980

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,980

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

26%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,892

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,892

Retention Rate

57%

Students Enrolled

953

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Barclay College

Haviland, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$19,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

53%

Acceptance Rate

33%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,980

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,980

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

169

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,000

Barclay College

Haviland, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,000

Acceptance Rate

53%

Online Enrollment

33%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,980

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$7,980

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

169

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Friends University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$31,172

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,172

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

63%

Acceptance Rate

53%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,448

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,448

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

1,724

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,172

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,172

Friends University

Wichita, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,172

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,172

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment

53%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,448

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,448

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

1,724

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Click here to see the best campus colleges in Kansas.

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