20 Best Colleges In Kansas

Overview

Southwestern College was founded in 1885 in Winfield, Kansas, by the United Methodist Church circuit riders and the Southwest Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Winfield, Kansas has a population of 12,000 people and it is 40 miles away from Wichita. The main campus in Winfield has 85 wooded acres.

Features

Southwestern College offers numerous majors for 1,190 undergraduate students to pursue. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1. Nearly 85% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 13 student organizations, 7 academic and honor societies and 7 musical groups to join. Students can also join intramurals or cheer on the NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Business & Marketing
• Homeland Security & Protective Services
• Education
• Computer & Information Sciences
• Health Professions

Notables

Southwestern’s curriculum is to prepare graduates for “leadership through service in a world without boundaries,” They maintain their focus on cutting edge in technology by ensuring that each Southwestern student receives a laptop computer. This engages students to finish their degrees quickly and almost always within 4 years with opportunities to continue with our Master degree programs.

Overview

Kansas Wesleyan University (KSU) was founded in 1886 in Salina, Kansas, by the United Methodist Church. Today, Salina, Kanas, is a the sixth largest city in Kansas and is a major arts and cultural community with 47,707 residents. KSU’s main campus has 28 acres that offer many unique programs to local and state-wide residents.

Features

Kansas Wesleyan University offers educational opportunities to 748 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1. Average class size is 16. Nearly 70% of the classes have 20 students. Outside the classroom, student have over 20 student organizations to join as well as the opportunity to participate in community service opportunities like Project HUNT, Project HERO and CampusServe. Top majors include:

• Health Professions
• Business & Marketing
• Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
• Education
• Homeland Security & Related Protective Services

Notables

KWU offers many unique programs for the state of Kansas residents because of their partnerships. The university offers the only Emergency Management bachelor’s degree in Kansas. KWU offers a 3+3 ministry degree program with Saint Paul School of Ministry and the 3+2 in Engineering degree with Washington University in Saint Louis, MO.

Overview

Tabor College was founded in 1908 in Hillsboro, Kansas, by the Mennonite Brethren and Krimmer Mennonite Brethren denominations. Today, Tabor has campuses in Hillsboro, Wichita, and Online. Tabor is currently owned and operated by the Mennonite Brethren Church and adheres to Anabaptist doctrine. The main campus has 86 acres and is about 50 miles north of Wichita, Kansas. Nearby cities include Newton and McPherson.

Features

Tabor College offers over 25 majors for 729 undergraduate students – 90% live on campus. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1. Nearly 70% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 50 school and student organizations to join as well as the opportunity to cheer for the NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Nursing
• Marketing
• Education
• Christian Studies
• Psychology

Notables

Tabor College is dedicated to preparing students for a life of learning, work, and service from a Christian worldview and looks for ways to integrate academics into life-transforming, globally relevant experiences. Sometimes, those experiences come in building a new football and soccer stadium in a joint venture between Tabor and Hillsboro USD 410.

Overview

Benedictine College was founded in 1858 in Atchison, Kansas, by Most Rev. John B. Miege, S.J., Vicar Apostolic of Leavenworth of the Benedictine Order of Monks. The college was named after Benedict of Nursia, the founder of modern western monasticism. Atchison, Kansas, which is a small city on the west bank of the Missouri River, forty-five miles north of Kansas City, twenty miles north of Leavenworth, Kansas, and twenty miles south of St. Joseph, Missouri. Benedictine is named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, The Newman Guide, and First Things Magazine.

Features

Benedictine College offers 49 majors for 2,133 undergraduate students – 85% live on the 110-acre campus. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 13-to-1. Nearly 51% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom student have over 50 student organizations to join. Top majors include:

• Business & Marketing
• Education
• Social Sciences
• Health
• Theology & Religious Vocations

Notables

Benedictine is part of the U.S. Benedictine colleges sponsored by St. Benedict’s Abbey and Mount St. Scholastica Monastery. The abbey has 53 monks and the monastery has 147 community members. The college has built its core values around four “pillars”—Catholic, Benedictine, Liberal Arts, Residential—into their unique cultural experience by sending students to study at their Florence, Italy, campus or Dublin, Ireland, campus.

Overview

Kansas State University (K-State) is a R1 research university located in Manhattan, Kansas. K-State was founded in 1863 as the first land-grant college under the Morill Act. Today, K-State is the oldest public institution to open as a co-ed institution and the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas. For those interested in sports, KSU is, also, the 3rd oldest school in the Big 12 Conference. Today, the university spans four campuses Manhattan, Olathe, Polytechnic and Global, our online/distance campus The Manhattan campus is approximately 15 minutes from Fort Riley and less than two hours from Fort Leavenworth.

Features

Kansas State University offers 250 undergraduate degrees for 19,859 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom students, the student-faculty ratio is 19-to-1. Nearly 41% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 450 student organizations dozens of fraternities and sororities, and student government to join. There is also the opportunity to play intramurals or root for the home NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference teams. Top majors include:

• Business
• Engineering
• Social Sciences
• Family and Consumer Sciences

Notables

K-State undergraduates have opportunities to research cutting-edge issues alongside field experts in areas including global food systems, cancer treatment and high-performance computing. Students can work with faculty on research at the Biosecurity Research Institute, where students can train to research infectious diseases; or the Landon Lecture Series, which has hosted many prestigious speakers; or the new National Bio and Agro-defense Facility.

Overview

Wichita State University was founded in 1895 in Wichita, Kansas, by Rev. Joseph Homer Parker and the Congregational Church. In the middle of the prairie, the institution shipped New England trees to cover the barren hill top of Wichita. Today, the main campus has 330 acres and they have several satellite locations to meet students where they are.

Features

Wichita State University offers 60 majors for 11,691 undergraduate students – 91% live off campus. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 18-to-1. Nearly 46% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 150 student organizations to join as well as the opportunity to participate in intramurals, volunteer or spend a day at the mall. Or you can cheer on the NCAA Division I teams. Top majors include:

• Business
• Health Professions
• Engineering
• Education
• Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

Notables

Wichita State University sports teams are called “the Shockers” based on how Wichita students used to earn money by harvesting or “shocking” wheat. As time progressed the college became known as WU. The big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat mascot became known as WuShock. WuShock (or Wu for short) has been kidnapped and kicked out of games, and even starred in a movie. Today, you can still find him roaming the stands at athletic events or making special appearances the Wichita and campus area.

Overview

McPherson College was founded in McPherson, Kansas, by leaders of the Church of the Brethren. Today, it is a 27-acre, four-year liberal arts college with a vibrant community of persons of diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds. The town of McPherson has a population of 13,000 residents, it is one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S. It is in central Kansas about 50 miles north of Wichita.

Features

McPherson College offers 21 majors, with over 40 emphases and 10 pre-professional programs for 650 undergraduate students. Full-time students are required to live on campus and participate in the college meal plan. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 13-to-1. Outside the classroom, cheer for the NAIA division II sports games and join social organizations. Top majors include:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
• Criminology
• Education
• Graphic Arts

Notables

Community is a central tenet to McPherson College’s mission to develop the whole person through scholarship, participation and service. While community and diversity of thinking might cause conflict, a community is not healthy if it cannot be free to develop respectful habits to debate, discuss and explore life outside of the bubble.

Overview

Bethany College was founded in 1881 in Lindsborg, Kansas, by Swedish-Lutheran settlers and Rev. Dr. Carl A. Swensson. Today, Bethany is a private, thriving institution occupying a newly-renovated campus on 80 acres near the intersection of two major interstate highways: I-70 and I-135. Kansas City is 200 miles away, Denver is 475 miles, and Dallas is 450 miles. The Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is about 75 miles south of Lindsborg.

Features

Bethany College offers over 30 programs for 698 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1. Nearly 78% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have the access to over 40 student organizations, fine arts groups or volunteer opportunities. But they all come to cheer on the NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Business
• Criminology
• Finance
• Psychology

Notables

The college and the tiny town of Lindsborg, Kansas, actively preserves their Swedish heritage. Seasonal festivals such as Svensk Hyllningsfest and Midsummer’s Day attract thousands of visitors to the area. You can also see this heritage in the downtown storefront’s architecture. The traditional Scandinavian style, and Wild Dala Horses – a symbol of Swedish folk craft – can be viewed around town and on campus. The Swedish love for music has inspired the Bethany Oratorio Society to present Handel’s Messiah at the college since 1882. This tradition has grown into a 10-day Messiah Festival of the arts.

Overview

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public institution that was founded in 1902 in Fort Hays, Kansas in the western plains. The main campus has total of 4,160 acres that were once part of the historic Fort Hays frontier military post. The university’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History is located off campus adjacent to Interstate 70 in northeast Hays.

Features

Fort Hays State University numerous options for 11,831 undergraduate students – only 11% live on campus. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 17-to-1. Nearly 43% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom students cheer on the NCAA Division II athletic teams. Top majors include:

• Business
• Education
• Nursing
• Information Studies
• Criminal Justice

Notables

The FHSU has had a unique history. When they moved on to the property in 1904, they had to evict a town of prairie dogs. The University Dairy Unit used to supply the school cafeteria with fresh milk for years. However, even though these are fun points of interest. It is important to note that over 90% of the undergraduate graduates are accepted into medical schools and 100% are accepted into physical therapy, chiropractic, dentistry, pharmacy and optometry graduate programs.

Overview

Washburn University is a 160-acre residential campus in the heart of Topeka, Kansas. WU was founded in 1865 by Ichabod Washburn and members of the Congregational Church on the principle that all people have the right to earn an education. Today, Washburn is a top-notch university in an urban capital city with about 127,400 residents. Washburn can give students a big-city feel with a small-town vibe.

Features

Washburn University offers 200 academic programs to over 7,000 students – 5,793 are undergraduates! Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 13-to-1. Nearly 50% of the classes have 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 100 student organizations to join as well as the opportunity to cheer on the in NCAA Division II teams. Students, faculty and staff also can enjoy numerous volunteer, cultural and recreational opportunities throughout campus and the Topeka community. Top majors include:

• Health Professions
• Business
• Education
• Homeland Security & Related Protective Services

Notables

The college is named after Ichabod Washburn, who worked his way from being an indentured apprentice to becoming a captain of industry. He was able to create a machine and technique that made wire stronger and easier to produce. His company, Washburn and Moen, was the largest wire producer at that time. He produced piano, crinoline, telegraph and barbed wires.

Overview

Ottawa University was founded in 1865 by Baptist Missionaries on the banks of the Marais des Cygnes River near Ottawa, Kansas, to provide educational resources to the Ottawa Indians. Today, Ottawa University has grown into a comprehensive educational institution serving over 600 students at the main campus on 64 acres and over 7,000 students on eight regional campuses (Overland Park, Kansas; Phoenix and Chandler, Arizona; Brookfield, Wisconsin; and Jeffersonville, Indiana) and online.

Features

Ottawa University offers over 20 majors for 630 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 18-to-1. Nearly 70% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have over 20 student organizations and regularly cheer on the NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Kinesiology & Exercise Science
• Business Administration & Management
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Education
• Public Administration and Social Service Professions.

Notables

Ottawa University is known for their Adawe LifePlan Center. The Adawe LifePlan Center provides a success coach to every student that supports students through programing, services and resources. They encourage students to use the LifePlan Narrative: an individualized, holistic plan developed by each student that encompasses all areas of students’ lives including academics, identity, relationships, health and wellness, career and lifestyle, and enlightened faith for their college years and beyond.