University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs in Kansas.
Featured Online Programs
Are you considering enrollment in an online college degree program in Kansas? Many colleges and universities offer distance learning options at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Some institutions even have online doctorate programs available, giving prospective students a wide array of higher education opportunities.
Not only is earning an online degree personally fulfilling, but it can significantly increase the number of jobs you qualify for. While exact expectations vary by industry and position, many employers set minimum education requirements for potential candidates. Those with college degrees are typically considered to be more qualified and are more likely to be hired. Other benefits of earning a degree include higher salary potential and more employment security.
Read MoreThose who graduate with online degrees in Kansas can expect increased opportunities to gain employment. As of December 2021, the state’s civilian labor force is 1,495,233. Of those, 1,453,912 were employed at that time. This leaves 41,321 of individuals capable of work but without jobs, making the unemployment rate 2.8%. This is down significantly from the year before when unemployment was 4.2%. In fact, Kansas has seen a consistent decline in unemployment rates since hitting a record high in March 2020 and is currently the lowest it has been in the past 10 years.
As of May 2020, Kansas had a mean hourly wage of $23.37 and an annual mean wage of $48,610. The national annual wage is $56,310, making earnings for workers in the state below average, though the cost of living in the state is somewhat lower than average as well. College graduates can expect to earn more than those who do not have college degrees.
It’s important to realize that some employment options offer significantly higher pay than others. Professions with some of the highest annual mean wages include chief executives, dentists, podiatrists, nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologists, family medicine physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, and psychiatrists. Notably, the jobs with the highest demand and wage potential in the state consist of registered nurses, general and operations managers, project management specialists, software developers, software quality assurance analysts, medical and health services managers, computer system analysts, management analysts, computer and information systems managers, pharmacists, financial managers, sales managers, marketing managers, nurse practitioners, physicians, and chief executives.
Online Higher Education in Kansas
As of the 2020-2021 academic year, the total student population in Kansas was 195,590. This includes 167,018 undergraduate and 28,572 graduate school students. Of these, 56,873 students were enrolled online exclusively, while an additional 60,188 students were enrolled in some online courses. This means that almost 60% of undergraduate and graduate students in Kansas took at least one online class during the 2020-2021 academic year.
For Kansas residents, the average cost of tuition and fees in the state were $5,392 per academic year in 2021. Students from other states paid more, however, with an average yearly tuition and fee commitment of $8,781.
Find Your Online Kansas Program
Prospective students in Kansas should be aware that enrolling in online courses can sometimes help mitigate the costs associated with earning degrees. Many colleges and universities offering online academic programs set their prices lower than traditional institutions. One reason for this is that schools must charge on-campus students for a variety of additional expenses such as room, board, parking, activities, and some services. While distance learners are still responsible for housing and food expenses while enrolled, they tend to have more control over options to help keep prices lower. Prospective students considering online programs should also remember to complete and submit the FAFSA, as many of the same financial aid opportunities are available to on-campus and online students. Scholarships are also available to distance learners.
Our School Rankings Methodology
College and university rankings are available to help you determine which academic programs best suit your unique personal and professional goals. The insight provided often makes it easier to select an institution and degree.
To ensure accuracy and applicability for students of all kinds, we utilized a proprietary ratings system to rank colleges and universities with the best online college programs in Kansas.
Some of the data types utilized to generate our rankings include the following.
- Graduation Rate
- Net Price
- Average Graduate Salary
- Retention Rate
- Reputation
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Our team is dedicated to helping you make the best decision possible. To this end, our investigations and assessments are highly thorough in order to develop a list of the top online programs available. When generating the results for Kansas, we focused our data collection process solely on properly accredited colleges and universities offering credible online courses. We also carefully considered the overall the quality and affordability of each institution prior to releasing our findings.
Top 15 Best Online Associate & Community Colleges in Kansas
Northwest Kansas Technical College
Score: 75.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,500
- Out-of-State: $17,500
- Net Price: $12,402
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 666
- Undergrad Students: 666
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,900
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Flint Hills Technical College
Score: 74.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,196
- Out-of-State: $6,196
- Net Price: $16,106
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 1,610
- Undergrad Students: 1,610
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,900
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Hutchinson Community College
Score: 73.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,720
- Out-of-State: $4,650
- Net Price: $6,491
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 4,960
- Undergrad Students: 4,960
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Rasmussen University-Kansas
Score: 71.47
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,340
- Out-of-State: $15,340
- Net Price: $18,503
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 590
- Undergrad Students: 568
- Graduate Students: 22
- Grads Salary: $45,700
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Colby Community College
Score: 70.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,196
- Out-of-State: $5,736
- Net Price: $8,128
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 1,380
- Undergrad Students: 1,380
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,200
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Seward County Community College
Score: 67.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,872
- Out-of-State: $5,056
- Net Price: $9,152
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 1,663
- Undergrad Students: 1,663
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,100
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Cowley College
Score: 67.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,650
- Out-of-State: $6,150
- Net Price: $8,396
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 2,230
- Undergrad Students: 2,230
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,900
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Score: 65.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,420
- Out-of-State: $6,720
- Net Price: $10,591
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 48%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 4,676
- Undergrad Students: 4,676
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $36,700
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Barton Community College
Score: 64.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,904
- Out-of-State: $4,832
- Net Price: $9,073
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 4,269
- Undergrad Students: 4,269
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Highland Community College
Score: 64.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,116
- Out-of-State: $4,116
- Net Price: $9,373
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 38%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 2,339
- Undergrad Students: 2,339
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,100
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Fort Scott Community College
Score: 63.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,690
- Out-of-State: $3,690
- Net Price: $6,464
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 49%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 1,499
- Undergrad Students: 1,499
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,700
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Johnson County Community College
Score: 62.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,784
- Out-of-State: $5,472
- Net Price: $13,733
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 16,497
- Undergrad Students: 16,497
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,100
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Concorde Career College-Kansas City
Score: 58.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,973
- Out-of-State: $15,973
- Net Price: $23,393
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 25%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 577
- Undergrad Students: 577
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,300
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
Independence Community College
Score: 57.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,440
- Out-of-State: $4,650
- Net Price: $7,038
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 44%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 809
- Undergrad Students: 809
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $29,400
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Butler Community College
Score: 56.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,456
- Out-of-State: $6,256
- Net Price: $15,278
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 6,697
- Undergrad Students: 6,697
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,400
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Top 20 Best Online Colleges in Kansas
University of Kansas
Score: 84.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,700
- Out-of-State: $29,412
- Net Price: $18,950
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 26,708
- Undergrad Students: 19,241
- Graduate Students: 7,467
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Kansas State University
Score: 83.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,942
- Out-of-State: $27,816
- Net Price: $18,855
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 19,722
- Undergrad Students: 15,046
- Graduate Students: 4,676
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Newman University
Score: 79.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,500
- Out-of-State: $35,500
- Net Price: $18,792
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 2,848
- Undergrad Students: 2,444
- Graduate Students: 404
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Washburn University
Score: 79.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,578
- Out-of-State: $20,582
- Net Price: $12,473
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 5,460
- Undergrad Students: 4,733
- Graduate Students: 727
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Wichita State University
Score: 78.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,322
- Out-of-State: $19,240
- Net Price: $13,553
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 16,216
- Undergrad Students: 12,049
- Graduate Students: 4,167
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Pittsburg State University
Score: 78.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,008
- Out-of-State: $19,692
- Net Price: $16,725
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 5,858
- Undergrad Students: 4,489
- Graduate Students: 1,369
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Fort Hays State University
Score: 77.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,633
- Out-of-State: $16,811
- Net Price: $13,322
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 12,949
- Undergrad Students: 10,427
- Graduate Students: 2,522
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Emporia State University
Score: 75.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,356
- Out-of-State: $15,669
- Net Price: $14,854
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 5,324
- Undergrad Students: 2,740
- Graduate Students: 2,584
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Barclay College
Score: 75.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,590
- Out-of-State: $26,590
- Net Price: $26,926
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 169
- Undergrad Students: 152
- Graduate Students: 17
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
Baker University
Score: 74.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,900
- Out-of-State: $33,900
- Net Price: $23,957
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 2,105
- Undergrad Students: 1,509
- Graduate Students: 596
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Friends University
Score: 73.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,748
- Out-of-State: $32,748
- Net Price: $23,720
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 1,724
- Undergrad Students: 1,278
- Graduate Students: 446
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Rasmussen University-Kansas
Score: 71.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,340
- Out-of-State: $15,340
- Net Price: $18,503
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 590
- Undergrad Students: 568
- Graduate Students: 22
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Benedictine College
Score: 70.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,800
- Out-of-State: $34,800
- Net Price: $30,067
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 2,362
- Undergrad Students: 2,289
- Graduate Students: 73
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Saint Mary
Score: 67.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,890
- Out-of-State: $33,890
- Net Price: $21,887
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 1,267
- Undergrad Students: 903
- Graduate Students: 364
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Manhattan Christian College
Score: 66.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,424
- Out-of-State: $18,424
- Net Price: $22,675
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 132
- Undergrad Students: 132
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $53,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Kansas Wesleyan University
Score: 65.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,470
- Out-of-State: $33,470
- Net Price: $22,617
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 859
- Undergrad Students: 791
- Graduate Students: 68
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Central Christian College of Kansas
Score: 65.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,000
- Out-of-State: $21,000
- Net Price: $15,732
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 47%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 571
- Undergrad Students: 537
- Graduate Students: 34
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Midamerica Nazarene University
Score: 62.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,120
- Out-of-State: $36,120
- Net Price: $28,787
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 1,508
- Undergrad Students: 1,159
- Graduate Students: 349
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Sterling College
Score: 61.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,200
- Out-of-State: $32,200
- Net Price: $22,680
- Acceptance Rate: 61%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 706
- Undergrad Students: 682
- Graduate Students: 24
- Grads Salary: $54,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Ottawa University-Ottawa
Score: 60.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,300
- Out-of-State: $35,300
- Net Price: $26,872
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 953
- Undergrad Students: 853
- Graduate Students: 100
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1