Washburn University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Topeka, Kansas. It enrolls 4,562 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes69
Value50
Affordability41
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Washburn University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Washburn University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,280 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,280
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
31%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,945
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,949
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,501
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,313
Books & Supplies
$807
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,294
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,294
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,512
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$20,310
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,693
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,758
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,922
Over $110,000
$15,472
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,76910%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$18,127Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$39,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,250
↓ $3,877
No Pell $11,000
↓ $7,127
Dependent students $12,250
↓ $5,877
Independent students $13,579
↓ $4,548
Female students $13,250
↓ $4,877
Male students $11,685
↓ $6,442
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($18,127), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
47% of full-time students who enrolled at Washburn University graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
47%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Washburn University earn a median of $49,774 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,774
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,300, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Washburn University is home to 4,562 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,562
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.1%2,694
Hispanic 16.2%738
Black 8.7%395
Other 7.7%352
International 5.7%258
Asian 1.1%48
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Washburn University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityTopeka, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential852 beds available
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Washburn University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
73 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washburn University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,039
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$197M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,127
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
251 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
68
27%
$106,523
Associate Professors
46
18%
$78,082
Assistant Professors
48
19%
$72,416
Lecturers
87
35%
$56,891
No Rank
2
1%
$48,986
Pros & Cons of Washburn University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Washburn University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about Washburn University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Washburn University.
How much does Washburn University cost?
The average net price after aid at Washburn University is $15,280 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Washburn University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,280 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Washburn University known for?
Washburn University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Liberal Arts, Law. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Washburn University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Washburn University are $49,774, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Washburn University accredited?
Yes. Washburn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Washburn University?
Washburn University enrolls 4,562 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Washburn University?
Washburn University graduates 47% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Washburn University a public or private college?
Washburn University is a Public institution.
Where is Washburn University located?
Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas.
What programs does Washburn University offer?
Washburn University offers 73 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Liberal Arts, Law.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Washburn University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washburn University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Washburn University
Washburn University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$14,946 Avg Net
77 UCD Score
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