Washburn University
About
Washburn University (WU), formally Washburn University of Topeka, is a public university in Topeka, Kansas, United States. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs as well as professional programs in law and business. The university enrolls approximately 5,000 undergraduate students and 700 graduate students as of 2023. As of 2008, Washburn also took over overseeing the nearby Washburn Tech.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 14.7-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 126 Title IV programs, 27 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 97 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing27 · 21.4%
- No Data97 · 77.0%
- Failing2 · 1.6%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Higher Learning Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 13
Action history · 20
- May 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
- Jun 2023Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
- Dec 2022Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RADTT) - Programs for radiation therapists
- Dec 2022Renewal of AccreditationCommission on English Language Program Accreditation · English Language
- Aug 2021Renewal of AccreditationCommission on English Language Program Accreditation · English Language
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 2,666 students received $13.8M in Pell grants, alongside $23.9M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,696 borrowers who entered repayment, 33 (1.9%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Washburn
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 9
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus6
- Non-campus1
- Public property1
Includes 3 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Washburn vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Washburn selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectWashburn University | 53% | — | 6,033 | $15,280 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| 40% | 94.9% | 6,851 | $10,051 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 56% | 97.7% | 4,557 | $16,261 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 39% | — | 3,716 | $13,251 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | |
| 54% | 86.1% | 9,152 | $16,244 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 51% | 89.4% | 5,755 | $15,784 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 69% | 83.8% | 3,664 | $12,780 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 48% | 95.8% | 9,488 | $12,923 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| Peer group median | 52% | 92.2% | 5,894 | $14,266 |
Institutions like Washburn
Explore the federal data for institutions in Washburn's comparison group.
- Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsColorado
Colorado State University Pueblo
Grad rate40%Admit rate94.9%Enrollment6,851Net price$10,051View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsKansas
Emporia State University
Grad rate56%Admit rate97.7%Enrollment4,557Net price$16,261View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsMissouri
Missouri Western State University
Grad rate39%Admit rate—Enrollment3,716Net price$13,251View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMissouri
Northwest Missouri State University
Grad rate54%Admit rate86.1%Enrollment9,152Net price$16,244View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsKansas
Pittsburg State University
Grad rate51%Admit rate89.4%Enrollment5,755Net price$15,784View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsMissouri
Truman State University
Grad rate69%Admit rate83.8%Enrollment3,664Net price$12,780View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIndiana
University of Southern Indiana
Grad rate48%Admit rate95.8%Enrollment9,488Net price$12,923View data
Campuses
The 1 campus that make up Washburn University.
Washburn Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Our primary mission is to support the university's strategic objectives, with a strong emphasis on fostering student success.
Visit IR office page- Tisha PratherInstitutional Research Analyst, SARR, Washburn Tech
- Amanda StollerAssociate Institutional Research Analyst, Strategic Analysis
Research funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Reports & documents (3)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data definitionFaculty Handbook Appendix IV - Washburn UniversityThe Faculty Handbook Appendix IV outlines Washburn University's policies and procedures regarding human subject research. It defines key terms like 'Director', 'Human Subject', 'IRB', and 'Informed Consent'. It details the structure and responsibilities of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), including its composition, review process, and authority to approve, disapprove, or require modifications to research projects. Informed consent requirements are emphasized, with guidelines for documentation and potential modifications. Expedited review process eligibility is described, along with the responsibilities of researchers in obtaining IRB approval before starting research projects involving human subjects.washburn.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planStrategic Plan - Washburn University2024Washburn University's Strategic Plan sets a course for 2024-2030 to enhance educational opportunities, improve campus environments, and foster community partnerships. Key priorities include expanding learner success pathways, optimizing campuses for better learning and working conditions, and accelerating collaborative efforts with local and regional partners. The plan emphasizes inclusion, modernization, and transformation to ensure success for both individuals and the broader community.washburn.edu
Notable alumni of Washburn (5)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Bill KurtisJournalism
- Larry NivenArts and entertainment
- Bob DoleGovernment and politics
- Georgia Neese Clark GrayGovernment and politics
- Earl Wilbur Sutherland Jr.Science and technology
Frequently asked questions about Washburn University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Washburn.
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About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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