Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Wichita State University is a public national university located in Wichita, Kansas. Wichita State University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Wichita State University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $47,524 10 years after enrolling, 10th in Kansas, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Wichita State University bachelor students earn 6% less than the national average. Wichita State University is ranked 4th in Kansas.
Wichita State University’s median net annual cost of $14,859 and average years to graduate of 4.8 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Wichita State University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$14,859
Average years to graduate
4.8
Aerospace Engineering
Rank: #25
Economic score: 1.54
Dental Support Services
Rank: #33
Economic score: 2.85
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #81
Economic score: 4.03
Finance
Rank: #303
Economic score: 4.33
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #97
Economic score: 5.43
Marketing
Rank: #343
Economic score: 6.6
Criminal Justice
Rank: #285
Economic score: 6.61
Social Work
Rank: #196
Economic score: 8.36
Biology
Rank: #475
Economic score: 11.82
Visual & Performing Arts
Rank: #21
Economic score: 12.31
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Wichita State University - Business Administration, Social Work, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment , Student Counseling, Health & Fitness, Special Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Public Administration
Rank: #102
Economic score: 0.63
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #96
Economic score: 0.64
Educ. Administration
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.65
Criminal Justice
Rank: #45
Economic score: 0.66
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #131
Economic score: 0.82
Music
Rank: #30
Economic score: 0.86
Human Development & Family
Rank: #24
Economic score: 1.26
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.8 years. 55% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Wichita State University is 4% higher than the state average, and 13% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Wichita State University, Pell Grant recipients represent 31% of the measured graduating class, 4% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Wichita State University graduates within 4.9 years.
Wichita State University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Wichita State University’s economic mobility score of 17.63 is calculated by adjusting the 3.2 economic score of lower-income students by the 31% pell grant recipients within the student body. Wichita State University’s EMS of 17.63 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Wichita State University pays $14,859 a year, $10,834 less than the $25,693 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $14,859
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Wichita State University, 78% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $14,859 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 49% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,067. This is 5% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$6,770
Pell grants
$4,387
State grants
$1,191
Institutional grants
$4,877
Wichita State University offers 13 online bachelor programs, 6 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Wichita State University offers 13 programs, 8 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
26
Hybrid programs
12
Percentage of programs online
17%
Wichita State University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 91% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 7,291 applicants, of which 6,639 were admitted and 1,814 enrolled. Wichita State University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
80%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
41%
59%
In-state
78%
68%
1st generation
36%
35%
White
60%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
14%
15%
Asian
7%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%