Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Kansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Washburn University, Baker University and University of Saint Mary are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Washburn University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,210, College Scorecard. University of Kansas, Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kansas: 275, 197 and 174 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 38 Kansas colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 2,414 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washburn University Topeka Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,210 | 161 | 53% | — | $25,250 |
| 2 | Baker University Baldwin City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,720 | 50 | 58% | $21,404 | $29,577 |
| 3 | University of Saint Mary Leavenworth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,349 | 43 | 48% | $22,730 | $29,000 |
| 4 | Hesston College Hesston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,338 | 29 | 61% | $18,768 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Fort Hays State University Hays Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,435 | 197 | 48% | — | $24,726 |
| 6 | MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,608 | 128 | 54% | $28,845 | $26,620 |
| 7 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,243 | 138 | 57% | — | $22,791 |
| 8 | Benedictine College Atchison Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,204 | 34 | 62% | $24,826 | $22,223 |
| 9 | Newman University Wichita Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,957 | 67 | 53% | $18,520 | $25,500 |
| 10 | University of Kansas Lawrence Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,347 | 275 | 69% | — | $20,500 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rasmussen University - Kansas Topeka Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,119 | 120 | 45% | $19,811 | $30,500 |
| 2 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park Public · Associate degree | $64,303 | 59 | 31% | — | $15,914 |
| 3 | Butler Community College El Dorado Public · Associate degree | $63,244 | 234 | 32% | — | $24,750 |
| 4 | Barton County Community College Great Bend Public · Associate degree | $63,183 | 43 | 33% | — | $21,250 |
| 5 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City Public · Associate degree | $63,181 | 57 | 42% | — | $22,444 |
| 6 | Colby Community College Colby Public · Associate degree | $62,370 | 23 | 55% | — | $20,680 |
| 7 | Neosho County Community College Chanute Public · Associate degree | $61,906 | 49 | 34% | — | $17,877 |
| 8 | Cloud County Community College Concordia Public · Associate degree | $61,406 | 25 | 55% | — | $22,268 |
| 9 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson Public · Associate degree | $60,330 | 78 | 53% | — | $21,889 |
| 10 | Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan Public · Associate degree | $59,298 | 23 | 74% | — | $24,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kansas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas Lawrence Public | 275 | $65,347 |
| 2 | Fort Hays State University Hays Public | 197 | $67,435 |
| 3 | Wichita State University Wichita Public | 174 | $63,301 |
| 4 | Washburn University Topeka Public | 161 | $71,210 |
| 5 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg Public | 138 | $66,243 |
| 6 | MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe Private not-for-profit | 128 | $66,608 |
| 7 | Newman University Wichita Private not-for-profit | 67 | $65,957 |
| 8 | Baker University Baldwin City Private not-for-profit | 50 | $70,720 |
| 9 | Emporia State University Emporia Public | 49 | $60,066 |
| 10 | Fort Hays Tech North Central Beloit Public | 46 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 28 Kansas colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Kansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Kansas.
Which Kansas colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of Kansas (275 graduates a year), Fort Hays State University (197 graduates a year) and Wichita State University (174 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 38 Kansas colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Kansas?+
By graduate earnings, Washburn University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,210, College Scorecard. Baker University and University of Saint Mary follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kansas is the largest, with 275 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Kansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washburn University tops the list at $71,210. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Kansas?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Kansas is $82,360 (median $79,320), across about 33,800 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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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