Colleges › Kansas › Wichita State University

Wichita State University

Wichita State University is a public campus in Wichita proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$10,914

family income
under $30k

$11,084

$30–48k

$14,240

$48–75k

$17,670

$75–110k

$18,751

over $110k

Average net price

$13,1942023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Wichita State University rose from $11,539 (2008) to $13,194 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$11,539
2009	$9,960
2010	$10,325
2011	$13,166
2012	$13,342
2013	$11,939
2014	$14,945
2015	$17,640
2016	$14,113
2017	$14,876
2018	$14,382
2019	$14,859
2020	$14,372
2021	$13,299
2022	$13,776
2023	$13,194

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$21,7802024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Wichita State University rose from $14,475 (2009) to $21,780 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$14,475
2010	$13,416
2011	$13,835
2012	$14,488
2013	$14,764
2014	$15,367
2015	$17,119
2016	$18,646
2017	$18,924
2018	$20,038
2019	$19,593
2020	$20,418
2021	$20,571
2022	$20,964
2023	$21,064
2024	$21,780

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,724	$9,339
2001	$2,857	$9,634
2002	$3,055	$9,832
2003	$3,507	$10,960
2004	$3,908	$11,362
2005	$4,231	$11,685
2006	$4,516	$11,863
2007	$4,804	$12,151
2008	$5,085	$12,761
2013	$6,926	$14,960
2014	$7,265	$15,299
2015	$7,528	$15,851
2016	$7,895	$16,634
2017	$8,432	$17,390
2018	$8,270	$17,452
2019	$8,298	$17,480
2020	$8,433	$17,798
2021	$8,800	$18,165
2022	$8,866	$18,226
2023	$9,322	$19,240

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Wichita State University reports tuition of $9,684 for in-state students and $19,869 for out-of-state students. Check Wichita State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 10,780 undergrads, Wichita State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

51% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Wichita State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

51%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Wichita State University rose from 23.9% (entered 1991) to 51% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	23.9%
1992 cohort	23.4%
1993 cohort	23.3%
1994 cohort	30.8%
1995 cohort	28.9%
1996 cohort	36.6%
1997 cohort	33.7%
1998 cohort	37.3%
1999 cohort	37.1%
2000 cohort	35.3%
2001 cohort	41.5%
2002 cohort	38.7%
2003 cohort	41.9%
2004 cohort	41.7%
2005 cohort	43.6%
2006 cohort	41.4%
2007 cohort	46.4%
2008 cohort	44.5%
2009 cohort	42.9%
2010 cohort	46%
2011 cohort	47.6%
2012 cohort	47%
2013 cohort	50.2%
2014 cohort	48.4%
2015 cohort	47.7%
2016 cohort	51.6%
2017 cohort	51.4%
2018 cohort	51%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$10,000	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$10,000	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$10,063	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$10,098	$2,750
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$10,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$11,000	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$11,000	$3,937
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,800	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$12,486	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$12,750	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$12,714	$4,716
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$12,867	$5,484
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$14,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,750	$5,514
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$16,750	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,515	$6,589
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,500	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$20,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$20,000	$8,575
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$21,000	$9,750
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,625	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$21,478	$8,661
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,250	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$20,500	$8,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$44,043

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$47,823

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$51,532

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Wichita State University admitted 9,316 of 9,916 applicants in Fall 2024. The 93.9% rate describes that application pool.

93.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,322 in-state tuition · 2023–24 10,780 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 905–12401600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Wichita State University received 9,916 applications and admitted 9,316 (93.9%), with 1,871 enrolling.

Wichita State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Wichita State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 470–610 and Math was 435–630 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 905–1240 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	470	550	610
SAT Math	435	560	630
ACT Composite	17	21	25

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

94%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	73.9%
Fall 2002	58.3%
Fall 2003	71.1%
Fall 2004	82%
Fall 2005	83.9%
Fall 2006	81.6%
Fall 2007	84.7%
Fall 2008	86%
Fall 2009	88.5%
Fall 2010	89.8%
Fall 2011	93.9%
Fall 2012	95.2%
Fall 2013	95.8%
Fall 2014	95.5%
Fall 2015	94.7%
Fall 2016	86.2%
Fall 2017	93.8%
Fall 2018	96.5%
Fall 2019	91.7%
Fall 2020	79.6%
Fall 2021	91.1%
Fall 2022	94.8%
Fall 2023	94.9%
Fall 2024	94%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

905–1240Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	962	1220
Fall 2005	950	1200
Fall 2006	902	1220
Fall 2007	965	1205
Fall 2008	965	1270
Fall 2009	970	1223
Fall 2010	950	1250
Fall 2011	925	1240
Fall 2012	885	1160
Fall 2013	937	1212
Fall 2015	940	1200
Fall 2016	915	1220
Fall 2017	1000	1275
Fall 2018	1050	1290
Fall 2019	1030	1270
Fall 2020	1020	1250
Fall 2021	983	1220
Fall 2022	953	1260
Fall 2023	970	1250
Fall 2024	905	1240

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

17–25Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	18	24
Fall 2002	20	25
Fall 2004	20	26
Fall 2005	20	25
Fall 2006	20	25
Fall 2007	21	26
Fall 2008	21	26
Fall 2009	21	26
Fall 2010	21	26
Fall 2011	21	26
Fall 2012	20	25
Fall 2013	21	26
Fall 2015	21	26
Fall 2016	21	27
Fall 2017	20	27
Fall 2018	20	26
Fall 2019	20	27
Fall 2020	20	27
Fall 2021	19	26
Fall 2022	19	26
Fall 2023	18	26
Fall 2024	17	25

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

10,780Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Wichita State University has held near 10,780 from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	10,660
Fall 2003	10,592
Fall 2004	10,156
Fall 2005	9,936
Fall 2006	9,986
Fall 2007	10,238
Fall 2008	10,572
Fall 2009	10,930
Fall 2010	10,984
Fall 2011	11,313
Fall 2012	11,143
Fall 2013	11,198
Fall 2014	11,289
Fall 2015	11,048
Fall 2016	11,030
Fall 2017	10,970
Fall 2018	11,148
Fall 2019	11,199
Fall 2020	10,770
Fall 2021	10,466
Fall 2022	10,304
Fall 2023	10,493
Fall 2024	10,780

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

69%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Wichita State University has held near 69% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	71%
Fall 2003 cohort	67%
Fall 2004 cohort	69%
Fall 2005 cohort	70%
Fall 2006 cohort	67%
Fall 2007 cohort	72%
Fall 2008 cohort	70%
Fall 2009 cohort	70%
Fall 2010 cohort	73%
Fall 2011 cohort	70%
Fall 2012 cohort	74%
Fall 2013 cohort	74%
Fall 2014 cohort	72%
Fall 2015 cohort	72%
Fall 2016 cohort	73%
Fall 2017 cohort	73%
Fall 2018 cohort	69%
Fall 2019 cohort	71%
Fall 2020 cohort	69%
Fall 2021 cohort	66%
Fall 2022 cohort	68%
Fall 2023 cohort	69%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Wichita State University

30.6% of Wichita State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Wichita State University as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 10,780 undergraduates live off campus, and 69.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Wichita State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 905–1240 — their midpoint is near the KS four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Wichita State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Wichita State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Wichita State University93.9%

Kansas median81.7%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Wichita State University$9,684

Kansas median$33,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Wichita State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Wichita State University$51,532

Kansas median$52,113

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Wichita State University, Kansas and national reference values
Metric & basis	Wichita State University	Kansas median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	93.9%	81.7%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,684	$33,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$51,532	$52,113	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Wichita State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Wichita State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 43 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$97,335
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$94,738
Mechanical Engineering	$89,074
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	$83,057
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$81,265
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General	$77,103
Computer Engineering	$76,203
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$75,784
Business/Managerial Economics	$73,166
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$72,936
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	$69,711
Accounting and Related Services	$69,696
Chemistry	$67,475
Management Information Systems and Services	$67,413
International Business	$65,366
Finance and Financial Management Services	$64,060
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$63,852
Human Resources Management and Services	$63,150
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	$61,982
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations	$61,960
Biology, General	$56,959
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$55,638
Political Science and Government	$54,874
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	$52,833
Marketing	$52,709
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$51,728
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$51,305
Curriculum and Instruction	$51,036
Communication and Media Studies	$50,773
Social Work	$49,670
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$48,537
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$48,446
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$47,463
Anthropology	$47,392
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$47,389
English Language and Literature, General	$46,768
History	$46,090
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$43,452
Psychology, General	$42,690
Sociology	$42,450
Fine and Studio Arts	$37,604
Visual and Performing Arts, General	$37,012
Design and Applied Arts	$36,723

These 43 fields listed for Wichita State University measure earnings after completion. The $51,532 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 31 additional Wichita State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Wichita State University report?

Wichita State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 905–1240 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Wichita State University's acceptance rate?

93.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 9,316 admitted from 9,916 applicants.

How much does Wichita State University cost?

In-state tuition is $9,684; out-of-state students pay $19,869. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Wichita State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $51,532. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Kansas

University of Saint Mary — 86.6% admitted
Pittsburg State University — 89.4% admitted
Manhattan Christian College — 100% admitted
University of Kansas — 93.5% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.