Rankings / By State
Best Biology Colleges in Kansas
- 16
- Schools
- $53,768
- Avg. Earnings
- 49%
- Avg. Graduation
- $23,161
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,839
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 16 schools run from $45,846 to $63,855, a 1.4× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Wichita State University delivers the most for the money: roughly $51,532 in median earnings against $13,194 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Wichita State University ($13,194 net price), still posts $51,532 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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Kansas State University graduates 71% of its students, versus a 49% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Kansas carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.34× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Newman University ($55,041 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Baker University ($63,855), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Wichita State University costs $13,194 a year and Bethel College-North Newton costs $32,917. Yet their graduates earn $51,532 and $49,898, nowhere near the $19,723 price gap.
- On value, Wichita State University beats Baker University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Wichita State University and Kansas State University. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $53K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Newman University #1 overall | $55,041 ▲ +2% vs avg | $19,971 | 53% | 73 |
| 2 Kansas State University #2 overall | $57,262 ▲ +6% vs avg | $19,406 | 71% | 72 |
| 3 University of Kansas #3 overall | $61,945 ▲ +15% vs avg | $18,059 | 69% | 72 |
| $51,532 ▼ -4% vs avg | $13,194 | 51% | 72 | |
| $47,601 ▼ -11% vs avg | $16,261 | 55% | 71 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Biology Colleges in Kansas
This analysis ranks 16 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $53,768 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 49% and an average net price of $23,161.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Wichita State University — Net Price: $13,194 | Graduation Rate: 51%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Kansas State University — 71% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Baker University — Median alumni earnings: $63,855
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Kansas Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Kansas?
$52,644
Median earnings (10yr)
49%
Median graduation rate
$22,595
Median net price
1.2%
Avg. mobility rate
Higher education is intensely local: most students enroll close to home and stay to work nearby, so a state's colleges are also its talent pipeline. This ranking looks at the mix of public and private institutions across Kansas, asking who keeps graduates in-state, who delivers earnings against the local cost of living, and who moves residents up the income ladder.
The median graduation rate across these 16 schools is 49%. Median graduate earnings reach $52,644 ten years after enrollment, roughly $4,644 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $22,595 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $23,250. Some 32% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.2%.
What we’re seeing: the schools that matter most for Kansas pair affordability with outcomes that keep talent local. A median net price of $22,595 and median earnings of $52,644 show which institutions strengthen the regional economy rather than simply enrolling students.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Newman University lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $55,041 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,971 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Kansas State University lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $57,262 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,406 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Kansas lands at #3 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $61,945 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,059 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Wichita State University lands at #4 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $51,532 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,194 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Emporia State University lands at #5 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $47,601 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,261 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Friends University lands at #6 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $52,113 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,715 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Baker University lands at #7 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $63,855 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,301 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Benedictine College lands at #8 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $53,175 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,891 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
McPherson College lands at #9 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $52,084 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,441 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Tabor College lands at #10 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $54,058 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,205 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Ottawa University-Ottawa lands at #11 with a 59/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $55,552 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,963 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Saint Mary lands at #12 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $59,483 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,519 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Bethel College-North Newton lands at #13 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (30/100). Graduates earn a median $49,898 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $32,917 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Bethany College lands at #14 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (62/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $49,694 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,686 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Sterling College lands at #15 with a 53/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (60/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $45,846 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,371 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Kansas Wesleyan University lands at #16 with a 51/100 composite, led by academic quality (65/100) and pulled down by social mobility (39/100). Graduates earn a median $51,152 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,671 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 16 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
When considering a biology program in Kansas, prospective students have 14 institutions to choose from. These schools share a focus on biology but differ significantly in their outcomes, costs, and graduation rates. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for making an informed decision about your education and future career.
The most important factors when evaluating these biology programs include earnings after graduation, graduation rates, debt levels, and overall program concentration. These indicators provide a clearer picture of what students can expect post-graduation. For example, schools like the University of Kansas stand out with higher average earnings compared to others, while also maintaining a solid graduation rate.
Take Newman University and Kansas State University as examples. Newman graduates earn an average of $55,041, with a graduation rate of 53%. In contrast, Kansas State University students achieve higher earnings at $57,262 and a better graduation rate of 71%. This comparison illustrates how program outcomes can vary significantly, influencing the decision-making process for students and families alike.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 11 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.2%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. McPherson College leads the group at 3.4%, with Tabor College (2.2%) and Baker University (1.3%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 5.7% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. McPherson College enrolls the most, at 11.6%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 21.4% across the list, peaking at 38.8% at Tabor College.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Baker University is highest at 1.75.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Looking closely at the data, we see a clear performance gap between Kansas State University and Wichita State University. Kansas State boasts average earnings of $57,262 and a graduation rate of 71%, while Wichita State lags with earnings of $51,532 and a 51% graduation rate. This difference highlights the impact of program effectiveness on financial outcomes for graduates.
After reviewing the data, it's essential to weigh these metrics against personal priorities. Consider what matters most: Is it crucial to minimize debt, or do you prioritize higher earning potential? Also, think about the campus environment and location, as these factors will play a significant role in your overall college experience. Map out your goals and align them with the data to find the right fit.
Ultimately, the path from college to a stable career hinges on these decisions. One family's choice to attend the University of Kansas could mean a brighter financial future, given its higher earnings compared to other institutions. As we navigate these considerations, remember that the right college can set the stage for long-term success, not just in terms of jobs, but in building a fulfilling life.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Biology Colleges in Kansas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Biology Colleges in Kansas ranking? +
Newman University in Wichita, KS ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Biology Colleges in Kansas ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $55,041 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 53% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Baker University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $63,855 ten years after enrollment, well above the $53,768 average across the 16 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Wichita State University leads: graduates earn a median $51,532 against net price of about $13,194 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Kansas State University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 71%, compared with a 49% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $23,161 a year across the 16 ranked schools with cost data. Wichita State University is among the most affordable at roughly $13,194. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Biology Colleges in Kansas ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 16 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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