Washburn University
- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,774 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,280 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 4,562
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,128,138.
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 22% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Washburn University Matters
Washburn University is a public university in Topeka, 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
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,562
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Washburn 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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,280 a year after grants and scholarships — 11% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after enrolling — 22% above the typical college, against $18,127 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.53 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With around 4,562 students, Washburn University is an inviting choice for those looking for a close-knit campus experience. It’s particularly appealing if you’re interested in Health Professions, Business, Criminal Justice, or Communications. These programs are designed to equip students with practical skills and knowledge that directly translate to the workforce. The community here values connection and support, making it a good fit for those who thrive in collaborative environments.
Looking ahead after graduation, students from Washburn can expect to earn about $49,774 per year a decade after completing their studies. This figure reflects the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who engage actively in their fields. While the graduation rate sits at 53%, it's important to consider the broader context of student support and engagement that can help improve these numbers. Affordable education is a big part of the conversation here, with many students receiving Pell Grants, which can further ease financial burdens.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid stands at $15,280, with a median debt of $18,127 for graduates. This balance suggests that while there are financial commitments, they remain manageable for most. Students who do well here often find a sense of community and purpose, helping them navigate both their academic and professional journeys successfully.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Washburn 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 Washburn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,816
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
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 Washburn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Washburn University is $20,949, 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 $15,280. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,310 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,127 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,945
- Out-of-State
- $20,949
- Avg Net Price
- $15,280
- Median Debt
- $18,127
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 31%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,310
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,693
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,758
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,472
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Washburn University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Washburn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Washburn University earn a median of $49,774, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,881
- 8 Years
- $45,837
- 10 Years
- $49,774
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (151)
- 22%
- 100% (151)
- 22%
- 100% (151)
- 22%
- 100% (151)
- 22%
How Washburn Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Washburn University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Washburn University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,280/year ($61,120 total). Graduates earn $49,774 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,189,258 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,128,138 (19.5× your investment). The median debt is $18,127, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $61,120
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,189,258
- Net Return
- $1,128,138
- ROI Multiple
- 19.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,280
- Median Debt
- $18,127
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $36,176
- Investment Income
- $-5,289,426
Top Programs
The fields Washburn University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 35% $65,127 early-career
- Humanities 14% $38,698 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $55,595 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $49,387 early-career
- Psychology 3% $36,562 early-career
- Communications 3% $34,755 early-career
- Education 3% $50,714 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $40,390 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Washburn 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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Washburn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Washburn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Washburn University is $20,949, 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 $15,280. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,310 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,127 in federal student loans.
Is Washburn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Washburn University earn a median of $49,774, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Washburn 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 Washburn University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), 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 Washburn University.
- Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KS · Close peer57% grad $50,579 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville, MO · Close peer56% grad $47,885 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Southern MainePortland, ME · Close peer43% grad $49,958 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · Close peer52% grad $49,560 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, MO · Close peer57% grad $53,037 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney, NE · Close peer59% grad $50,105 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Washburn 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 Washburn University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), 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