Cost of college in Kansas
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Kansas averages $9,961 a year, or $16,224 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $55,124 and owe about $20,608. The net price pays back in about 4.9 years.
How Kansas compares to the US
Kansas ranks #27 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #27 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #29 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Kansas | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $9,961 | $9,518 | +$443 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,381 | $23,652 | +$729 |
| Net price after aid | $16,224 | $13,788 | +$2,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $55,124 | $56,427 | -$1,303 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,608 | $17,856 | +$2,752 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Kansas pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Kansas costs about $64,896 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 4.9 years from the roughly $13,324-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #29 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Kansas list about $33,678 in tuition and net out to about $25,564 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Kansas?
At a public 4-year college in Kansas, in-state tuition and fees average about $9,961 a year and out-of-state runs about $24,381. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $16,224. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Kansas earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Kansas's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $55,124 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,608 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Kansas?
A public 4-year degree in Kansas costs about $64,896 over four years at net price and recoups in about 4.9 years from the roughly $13,324-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.