
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,824 and the average private school would be $23,948. You can also get information on specific Kansas schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work

Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at University of Kansas (2020-21) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $11,166 |
Room and Board | $9,900 |
Books | $1,212 |
Other Expenses | $3,198 |
Total | $25,476 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
---|---|---|
Family Income | KS Public $23,026 | KS Private $45,213 |
$0 - $30k | $11,632 | $21,053 |
$30,001 – $48k | $12,708 | $20,675 |
$48,001 – $75k | $15,367 | $22,431 |
$75,001 – $110k | $17,824 | $23,948 |
$110,001+ | $18,823 | $26,074 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Kansas public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $7,000-$10,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Kansas. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public KS Schools Cost Breakdown
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Emporia State University
Emporia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $6,971 $7,001 Room and Board $9,534 $9,534 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,498 $3,878 Total $21,003 $21,413 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,752 $11,981 $30,001 - $48k $12,794 $13,044 $48,001 - $75k $16,173 $16,489 $75,001 - $110k $17,029 $17,361 $110,001+ $17,338 $17,676 -
Fort Hays State University
Hays Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $5,430 $5,430 Room and Board $8,414 $8,414 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,520 $4,520 Total $19,364 $19,364 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,203 $10,203 $30,001 - $48k $10,813 $10,813 $48,001 - $75k $13,478 $13,478 $75,001 - $110k $15,494 $15,494 $110,001+ $16,559 $16,559 -
University of Kansas
Lawrence Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,166 $11,166 Room and Board $9,900 $9,900 Books $1,212 $1,224 Other Expenses $3,198 $3,230 Total $25,476 $25,520 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,970 $13,994 $30,001 - $48k $15,183 $15,209 $48,001 - $75k $17,163 $17,193 $75,001 - $110k $20,432 $20,467 $110,001+ $22,976 $23,016
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Kansas State University
Manhattan Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,466 $10,420 Room and Board $10,100 $10,100 Books $924 $1,006 Other Expenses $4,400 $4,204 Total $25,890 $25,730 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,359 $13,276 $30,001 - $48k $14,742 $14,651 $48,001 - $75k $16,707 $16,604 $75,001 - $110k $20,608 $20,481 $110,001+ $21,936 $21,800 -
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,504 $7,744 Room and Board $8,196 $8,196 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,980 $4,114 Total $20,680 $21,054 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,974 $10,154 $30,001 - $48k $11,582 $11,791 $48,001 - $75k $14,070 $14,324 $75,001 - $110k $16,909 $17,215 $110,001+ $17,256 $17,568 -
Washburn University
Topeka Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,762 $8,872 Room and Board $9,715 $9,838 Books $1,000 $993 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,314 Total $23,077 $23,017 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,933 $10,905 $30,001 - $48k $12,686 $12,653 $48,001 - $75k $15,587 $15,546 $75,001 - $110k $16,800 $16,756 $110,001+ $17,398 $17,353 -
Wichita State University
Wichita Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,433 $8,800 Room and Board $12,610 $12,610 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $3,400 $3,400 Total $25,693 $26,060 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,235 $11,395 $30,001 - $48k $11,155 $11,314 $48,001 - $75k $14,393 $14,599 $75,001 - $110k $17,495 $17,745 $110,001+ $18,295 $18,556
Private KS Schools Cost Breakdown
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Baker University
Baldwin City Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,770 $31,700 Room and Board $9,150 $9,330 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,190 Total $46,220 $47,420 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,800 $21,340 $30,001 - $48k $18,598 $19,081 $48,001 - $75k $23,562 $24,174 $75,001 - $110k $26,406 $27,092 $110,001+ $26,748 $27,442 -
Benedictine College
Atchison Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $31,630 $32,630 Room and Board $10,840 $12,250 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,300 $5,000 Total $47,970 $51,080 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,447 $24,967 $30,001 - $48k $23,191 $24,695 $48,001 - $75k $23,164 $24,666 $75,001 - $110k $22,917 $24,403 $110,001+ $29,104 $30,991 -
Bethany College
Lindsborg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,820 $31,215 Room and Board $12,360 $12,975 Books $860 $870 Other Expenses $6,200 $6,500 Total $50,240 $51,560 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,730 $26,406 $30,001 - $48k $22,119 $22,700 $48,001 - $75k $27,309 $28,027 $75,001 - $110k $27,315 $28,033 $110,001+ $26,647 $27,347 -
Bethel College-North Newton
North Newton Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,264 $31,164 Room and Board $9,670 $9,810 Books $700 $700 Other Expenses $5,097 $5,157 Total $45,731 $46,831 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,084 $23,639 $30,001 - $48k $22,751 $23,298 $48,001 - $75k $22,699 $23,245 $75,001 - $110k $26,353 $26,987 $110,001+ $26,844 $27,490 -
Central Christian College of Kansas
McPherson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $20,100 $20,225 Room and Board $7,500 $8,000 Books $1,000 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,570 $3,070 Total $31,170 $32,495 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,866 $16,540 $30,001 - $48k $16,331 $17,025 $48,001 - $75k $11,647 $12,142 $75,001 - $110k $15,504 $16,163 $110,001+ $16,702 $17,412 -
Friends University
Wichita Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,120 $30,864 Room and Board $8,350 $7,494 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $4,324 $5,195 Total $44,294 $45,053 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,879 $18,185 $30,001 - $48k $18,252 $18,565 $48,001 - $75k $18,994 $19,319 $75,001 - $110k $20,668 $21,022 $110,001+ $23,397 $23,798 -
Newman University
Wichita Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $33,000 $34,460 Room and Board $9,294 $9,644 Books $1,316 $1,282 Other Expenses $2,878 $2,880 Total $46,488 $48,266 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,613 $16,210 $30,001 - $48k $14,142 $14,683 $48,001 - $75k $17,018 $17,669 $75,001 - $110k $16,374 $17,000 $110,001+ $22,109 $22,955
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Kansas Wesleyan University
Salina Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,570 $31,340 Room and Board $10,000 $10,300 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $43,770 $44,840 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,597 $21,101 $30,001 - $48k $22,155 $22,697 $48,001 - $75k $25,851 $26,483 $75,001 - $110k $25,425 $26,047 $110,001+ $26,329 $26,973 -
McPherson College
McPherson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $31,154 $32,408 Room and Board $8,754 $9,718 Books $1,420 $1,420 Other Expenses $3,516 $3,600 Total $44,844 $47,146 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,992 $22,070 $30,001 - $48k $20,173 $21,209 $48,001 - $75k $23,829 $25,052 $75,001 - $110k $24,740 $26,010 $110,001+ $27,935 $29,369 -
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,872 $33,840 Room and Board $9,282 $9,562 Books $1,514 $1,514 Other Expenses $5,698 $7,716 Total $49,366 $52,632 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $26,357 $28,101 $30,001 - $48k $25,027 $26,683 $48,001 - $75k $27,264 $29,068 $75,001 - $110k $28,623 $30,517 $110,001+ $32,809 $34,980 -
Ottawa University-Ottawa
Ottawa Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,180 $36,780 Room and Board $11,934 $11,934 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,640 $3,640 Total $48,954 $53,554 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,353 $24,453 $30,001 - $48k $23,959 $26,210 $48,001 - $75k $24,057 $26,318 $75,001 - $110k $27,151 $29,702 $110,001+ $29,366 $32,125 -
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,800 $31,630 Room and Board $8,585 $8,585 Books $2,550 $2,550 Other Expenses $1,980 $1,980 Total $43,915 $44,745 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $23,791 $24,241 $30,001 - $48k $22,274 $22,695 $48,001 - $75k $22,304 $22,726 $75,001 - $110k $23,721 $24,169 $110,001+ $24,676 $25,142 -
Southwestern College
Winfield Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $33,250 $34,900 Room and Board $8,500 $8,930 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $6,562 $6,782 Total $49,312 $51,612 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,801 $23,864 $30,001 - $48k $24,953 $26,117 $48,001 - $75k $26,018 $27,232 $75,001 - $110k $26,962 $28,220 $110,001+ $29,824 $31,215 -
Sterling College
Sterling Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $27,300 $28,500 Room and Board $8,610 $8,936 Books $1,240 $1,240 Other Expenses $3,560 $4,210 Total $40,710 $42,886 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,585 $21,685 $30,001 - $48k $20,345 $21,432 $48,001 - $75k $22,947 $24,174 $75,001 - $110k $23,588 $24,849 $110,001+ $24,387 $25,691 -
Tabor College
Hillsboro Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,100 $33,400 Room and Board $9,100 $9,300 Books $0 $0 Other Expenses $4,010 $4,010 Total $45,210 $46,710 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,896 $16,423 $30,001 - $48k $15,862 $16,388 $48,001 - $75k $19,806 $20,463 $75,001 - $110k $23,476 $24,255 $110,001+ $24,238 $25,042
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