Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Kansas (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 5 Liberal Arts schools in Kansas by median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Kansas leads the list with median earnings of $58,777 four years after completing.
Across the 4 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $58,777 to $43,452, with a median of $51,946.
Public institutions account for 4 of the 5 listed schools, alongside 1 private nonprofit. Fort Hays State University posts the lowest average net price at $12,569, while University of Kansas ranks 183rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $58,777 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
| University of Kansas reports median earnings of $58,777 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (87 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($58,777) | |||||
| 2 | Fort Hays State University · Hays, KS | $53,176 | $12,569 | $7,661 | 90.3% |
| Fort Hays State University carries the lowest average net price on the page at $12,569, and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $53,176 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (174 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,176) | |||||
| 3 | Emporia State University · Emporia, KS | $50,717 | $16,261 | $11,452 | 97.7% |
| Emporia State University admits 98% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 56%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($50,717) | |||||
| 4 | Wichita State University · Wichita, KS | $43,452 | $13,194 | $9,734 | 94.0% |
| Wichita State University ranks 330th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $43,452 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (72 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | Friends University · Wichita, KS | $41,734 | $27,715 | $21,714 | 55.2% |
| The sole private nonprofit school on the list, Friends University, has an average net price of $27,715 and a six-year completion rate of 43%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (39 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Liberal Arts earnings cohort in Kansas appear. The figure reflects federally aided Liberal Arts completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or the characteristics of who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 4 schools with a published figure. University of Kansas leads the list at $58,777, and the gap to second-ranked Fort Hays State University is $5,601.