by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a grad degree. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Kansas ranking.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 18 grad schools across Kansas to determine which have the best master's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best grad schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. Recent students who earned a master's degree in Kansas entered the job market making an average of $56,354 while those in the top 18 schools on our list made an average of $56,641.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their master's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty master's recipients will have paying back their loans.
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Master's Degree Schools ranking. On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
University of Kansas tops this year’s ranking as the best grad school for master’s degrees in Kansas for overall quality. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,560 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,100 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Kansas State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kansas. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,146 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from K -State go into careers with an average salary of $55,226 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 18 master’s degree schools in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Baker University landed the #3 spot on the list. Baker is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baldwin City, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 300 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Baker is $58,564 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Emporia State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Kansas. ESU is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 1,074 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from ESU make an average of $48,955 a year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wichita State University. The school came in at #5 in Kansas on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Wichita State University is a fairly large public school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 767 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,976 during the early years of their career.
Pittsburg State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 580 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Pitt State go into careers with an average salary of $46,432 during the early years of their career.
Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Hays, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 924 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from FHSU is $52,856 during the early years of their career.
Southwestern College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Winfield, Kansas that handed out 49 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from SC go into careers with an average salary of $47,761 during the early years of their career.
Washburn University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 139 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Washburn University make an average of $58,847 a year.
With a ranking of #10, Ottawa University - Ottawa did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Located in Ottawa, Kansas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 18 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,655 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Newman University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 150 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Newman University make an average of $77,115 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #12, MidAmerica Nazarene University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Located in Olathe, Kansas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 127 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from MNU make an average of $56,494 a year.
University of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Leavenworth, Kansas, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 132 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,076 during the early years of their career.
Friends University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 225 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,469 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Benedictine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Atchison, Kansas. It awarded 35 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Benedictine College go into careers with an average salary of $44,447 during the early years of their career.
Kansas Wesleyan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. Kansas Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salina, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Kansas Wesleyan University go into careers with an average salary of $44,935 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Ottawa University - Online did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Ottawa, Kansas, and it awarded 25 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Ottawa University - Online make an average of $63,690 a year.
With a ranking of #18, Ottawa University - Kansas City did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Kansas list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Overland Park, Kansas, and it awarded 69 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $76,940 during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.