# Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-kansas

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Kansas

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

In Kansas, affordability is a major consideration for students and families seeking higher education. With net prices varying significantly across institutions, finding a school that balances cost and quality can feel daunting. Here, we highlight colleges with the lowest net prices, helping you make an informed choice as you explore your options.

These schools stand out not just for their low costs but also for the outcomes they deliver. Factors like graduation rates, earnings after graduation, and student debt load are crucial when assessing potential colleges. The list below reflects these important metrics, illustrating how each institution stacks up in terms of affordability and economic mobility.

Take Independence Community College and Dodge City Community College, for example. Independence has a notably low net price of $3,265 but a graduation rate of only 30%, compared to Dodge City, which has a higher net price at $4,068 and a graduation rate of 33%. This contrast highlights the trade-offs students may face in their decision-making process, weighing cost against completion rates.

## Key Findings

- Independence Community College has the lowest net price in Kansas at $3,265.
- Dodge City Community College offers higher average earnings at $45,427 compared to Independence’s $34,941.
- Coffeyville Community College leads with a 40% graduation rate among the top five schools.
- Labette Community College has the highest debt level at $10,500, indicating a potential trade-off for students.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Independence Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/independence-community-college) | Independence, KS | 30% | $34,941 | $3,265 | $6,115 | 0.18x |
| 2 | [Dodge City Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dodge-city-community-college) | Dodge City, KS | 33% | $45,427 | $4,068 | $8,800 | 0.19x |
| 3 | [Coffeyville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coffeyville-community-college) | Coffeyville, KS | 40% | $35,246 | $4,957 | $8,103 | 0.23x |
| 4 | [Fort Scott Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-scott-community-college) | Fort Scott, KS | 34% | $37,213 | $5,586 | $9,500 | 0.26x |
| 5 | [Labette Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/labette-community-college) | Parsons, KS | 26% | $37,818 | $5,939 | $10,500 | 0.28x |
| 6 | [Hutchinson Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hutchinson-community-college) | Hutchinson, KS | 49% | $43,470 | $6,727 | $9,773 | 0.22x |
| 7 | [Seward County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seward-county-community-college) | Liberal, KS | 48% | $41,445 | $6,717 | $6,500 | 0.16x |
| 8 | [Colby Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colby-community-college) | Colby, KS | 56% | $41,889 | $7,886 | $8,908 | 0.21x |
| 9 | [Salina Area Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salina-area-technical-college) | Salina, KS | 70% | $42,175 | $6,468 | $7,000 | 0.17x |
| 10 | [Garden City Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/garden-city-community-college) | Garden City, KS | 46% | $41,704 | $8,244 | $6,500 | 0.16x |
| 11 | [Cowley County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cowley-county-community-college) | Arkansas City, KS | 46% | $37,723 | $7,175 | $8,000 | 0.21x |
| 12 | [Allen County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/allen-county-community-college) | Iola, KS | 38% | $40,059 | $8,642 | $6,954 | 0.17x |
| 13 | [Haskell Indian Nations University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/haskell-indian-nations-university) | Lawrence, KS | 31% | $37,043 | $3,134 | N/A | N/A |
| 14 | [Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wichita-state-university-campus-of-applied-sciences-and-technology) | Wichita, KS | 39% | $38,679 | $8,805 | $9,500 | 0.25x |
| 15 | [Pratt Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pratt-community-college) | Pratt, KS | 44% | $51,892 | $9,731 | $6,500 | 0.13x |
| 16 | [Barton County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barton-county-community-college) | Great Bend, KS | 38% | $40,428 | $9,905 | $9,501 | 0.24x |
| 17 | [Neosho County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/neosho-county-community-college) | Chanute, KS | 36% | $45,966 | $10,271 | $8,500 | 0.18x |
| 18 | [Highland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/highland-community-college) | Highland, KS | 39% | $41,291 | $10,454 | $8,277 | 0.2x |
| 19 | [Manhattan Area Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/manhattan-area-technical-college) | Manhattan, KS | 70% | $51,864 | $10,074 | $9,500 | 0.18x |
| 20 | [Washburn Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washburn-institute-of-technology) | Topeka, KS | 66% | $49,774 | $8,607 | $18,127 | 0.36x |
| 21 | [Fort Hays State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-hays-state-university) | Hays, KS | 48% | $48,928 | $12,569 | $21,000 | 0.43x |
| 22 | [Wichita State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wichita-state-university) | Wichita, KS | 51% | $51,532 | $13,194 | $20,500 | 0.4x |
| 23 | [Cloud County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cloud-county-community-college) | Concordia, KS | 51% | $39,883 | $11,685 | $8,000 | 0.2x |
| 24 | [Central Christian College of Kansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-christian-college-of-kansas) | McPherson, KS | 25% | $44,468 | $11,404 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 25 | [Donnelly College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/donnelly-college) | Kansas City, KS | 42% | $35,715 | $11,476 | $11,842 | 0.33x |
| 26 | [Pittsburg State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pittsburg-state-university) | Pittsburg, KS | 57% | $50,579 | $15,784 | $18,969 | 0.38x |
| 27 | [Fort Hays Tech North Central](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-hays-tech-north-central) | Beloit, KS | 77% | $46,928 | $12,393 | $10,000 | 0.21x |
| 28 | [Johnson County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-county-community-college) | Overland Park, KS | 30% | $45,387 | $14,176 | $8,750 | 0.19x |
| 29 | [Emporia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emporia-state-university) | Emporia, KS | 55% | $47,601 | $16,261 | $19,500 | 0.41x |
| 30 | [Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-hays-state-university-northwest-kansas-technical-college) | Goodland, KS | 75% | $38,616 | $13,074 | $12,000 | 0.31x |
| 31 | [University of Kansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-kansas) | Lawrence, KS | 69% | $61,945 | $18,059 | $21,000 | 0.34x |
| 32 | [Washburn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washburn-university) | Topeka, KS | 53% | $49,774 | $15,280 | $18,127 | 0.36x |
| 33 | [Butler Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/butler-community-college) | El Dorado, KS | 31% | $41,206 | $15,724 | $10,500 | 0.25x |
| 34 | [Kansas City Kansas Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kansas-city-kansas-community-college) | Kansas City, KS | 40% | $40,795 | $16,744 | $8,793 | 0.22x |
| 35 | [Flint Hills Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/flint-hills-technical-college) | Emporia, KS | 68% | $47,007 | $16,017 | $6,625 | 0.14x |
| 36 | [Kansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kansas-state-university) | Manhattan, KS | 71% | $57,262 | $19,406 | $21,250 | 0.37x |
| 37 | [Newman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/newman-university) | Wichita, KS | 53% | $55,041 | $19,971 | $20,801 | 0.38x |
| 38 | [Tabor College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tabor-college) | Hillsboro, KS | 33% | $54,058 | $20,205 | $23,887 | 0.44x |
| 39 | [University of Saint Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-saint-mary) | Leavenworth, KS | 46% | $59,483 | $22,519 | $22,018 | 0.37x |
| 40 | [Sterling College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sterling-college) | Sterling, KS | 34% | $45,846 | $22,371 | $24,625 | 0.54x |
| 41 | [Kansas Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kansas-wesleyan-university) | Salina, KS | 43% | $51,152 | $22,671 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 42 | [Baker University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baker-university) | Baldwin City, KS | 59% | $63,855 | $25,301 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 43 | [McPherson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcpherson-college) | McPherson, KS | 44% | $52,084 | $26,441 | $25,242 | 0.48x |
| 44 | [Hesston College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hesston-college) | Hesston, KS | 59% | $47,495 | $26,299 | $12,000 | 0.25x |
| 45 | [Friends University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/friends-university) | Wichita, KS | 52% | $52,113 | $27,715 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 46 | [Benedictine College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/benedictine-college) | Atchison, KS | 63% | $53,175 | $27,891 | $24,599 | 0.46x |
| 47 | [Bethany College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethany-college) | Lindsborg, KS | 32% | $49,694 | $27,686 | $23,250 | 0.47x |
| 48 | [Ottawa University-Ottawa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ottawa-university-ottawa) | Ottawa, KS | 28% | $55,552 | $27,963 | $21,500 | 0.39x |
| 49 | [Southwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-college-ks) | Winfield, KS | 35% | $55,646 | $29,824 | $25,000 | 0.45x |
| 50 | [MidAmerica Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midamerica-nazarene-university) | Olathe, KS | 49% | $62,972 | $32,165 | $15,000 | 0.24x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-kansas

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.