Friends University
#4 Best Psychology Colleges in Kansas- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,113 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $27,715 D
- 62% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Psychology Colleges in Kansas.
Every $1 spent returns $12.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,214,844.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 28% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Friends University Matters
Friends University is a private university in Wichita, KS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,048
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Biology & Biomedical, Education
Why students choose Friends University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 960–1090. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,715 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,113 ten years after enrolling — 28% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 78% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.64 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Friends University has an enrollment of 1,048 students, making it a close-knit community where personalized attention is the norm. The acceptance rate stands at 55%, allowing a diverse set of students to join this private nonprofit institution.
Graduates from Friends University earn a median income of $52,113 a decade after finishing their degree. While specific mobility data is not available, the overall outcomes suggest a pathway to economic stability for many graduates, particularly in popular fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions.
The net price for attending Friends University is $27,715, with a median debt of $25,000 for those who borrow. Students who thrive here are often those seeking a supportive environment with a focus on practical education that leads to solid job prospects. The 30% Pell Grant rate indicates that the university attracts a range of students, including those from lower-income backgrounds.
Rankings
- #4 Best Psychology Colleges in Kansas
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kansas
- #6 Best Biology Colleges in Kansas
- #7 Best Computer Science Colleges in Kansas
- #7 Best Data Science Colleges in Kansas
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Kansas
- #10 Best Education Colleges in Kansas
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Kansas
Can I Get In?
How selective Friends University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Friends University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Friends University, located in Wichita, Kansas, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,080. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 65%
- SAT Average
- 1080
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- SAT Range
- 960–1090
- ACT Range
- 15–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 31%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,013
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 1,620
- Admitted
- 1,025
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Friends University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Friends University is $34,192, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,715. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,714 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,192
- Out-of-State
- $34,192
- Avg Net Price
- $27,715
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $21,714
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,992
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,517
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,471
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Friends University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Friends University earn a median of $52,113, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,960
- 8 Years
- $46,619
- 10 Years
- $52,113
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 33%
- 100% (60)
- 33%
- 100% (60)
- 33%
- 100% (60)
- 33%
How Friends Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Friends University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Friends University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,715/year ($110,860 total). Graduates earn $52,113 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,325,704 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,214,844 (12.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $110,860
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,325,704
- Net Return
- $1,214,844
- ROI Multiple
- 12.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,715
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Friends University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Friends University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.97%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $82,200
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,333,064
- Investment Income
- $-9,351,412
Top Programs
The fields Friends University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 26%
- Humanities 12%
- Biology & Biomedical 11%
- Education 7%
- Health Professions 6%
- Psychology 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Criminal Justice 6%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Friends University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Friends University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Friends University, located in Wichita, Kansas, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,080. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Friends University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Friends University is $34,192, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,715. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,714 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Friends University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Friends University earn a median of $52,113, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Friends University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Friends University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Friends University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Friends University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Friends University.
- Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO · Close peer52% grad $48,991 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Quincy UniversityQuincy, IL · Close peer44% grad $50,369 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI · Close peer61% grad $51,732 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Midland UniversityFremont, NE · Close peer43% grad $52,163 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwest Nazarene UniversityNampa, ID · Close peer65% grad $51,719 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Hastings CollegeHastings, NE · Close peer51% grad $51,303 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Friends University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Friends University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note