Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Public City: Midsize

Washburn University is a public institution in Topeka, Kansas enrolling 4,562 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.. Graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after enrollment, based on U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid data. The average net price after financial aid is $15,280. This profile includes admissions data, graduation rates, program-level earnings, and cost breakdowns to help students compare colleges using official federal data.

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Washburn University

Washburn University operates as a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas (city: midsize), with a total reported enrollment of 4,562 students of which 5,702 are undergraduates. Institution-level records in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) classify each school by Carnegie category, ownership sector, and urban/rural locale, which is how this profile’s peer group and cost cohort are determined. Washburn University is categorized as “19” under the Carnegie classification system, a meaningful signal when comparing like-to-like institutions.

Selectivity and financial signals give context to what applicants can expect. Admission rate data is not currently reported for this institution. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,280, with published in-state tuition of $9,945 and a Pell grant recipient share of 33.6%. Median federal student debt at graduation is $18,127, drawn from the U.S. Treasury-matched College Scorecard file.

Outcomes reveal whether the investment pays back. The 4-year completion rate is 52.8%, and the first-year retention rate is 68.0%. Graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after enrolling, compared with $42,881 six years post-enrollment. Within three years of entering repayment, 359700.0% of borrowers are making progress on their federal loans, and 67.4% of graduates earn above the high-school threshold. Treating these numbers as a single snapshot alongside the cost cohort is the standard approach for evaluating ROI under the College Scorecard methodology.

Quick Facts

4,562
Total enrollment
Acceptance rate
SAT average
52.8%
4-yr graduation rate
$49,774
10-yr median earnings
68.0%
First-year retention

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $9,945
Out-of-State Tuition $20,949
Average Net Price $15,280

Net Price by Family Income

$0 – $30,000 $20,310
$30,001 – $48,000 $9,693
$48,001 – $75,000 $10,758
Over $110,000 $15,472
33.6%
Pell Grant Rate
31.0%
Federal Loan Rate
$18,127
Median Debt
$192/mo
Monthly Payment

Student Demographics

White 59.1%
African American 8.7%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.9%
Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.6%
International 5.7%
59.1%
Female
37.8%
First Generation

Outcomes

52.8%
4-Year Completion Rate
68.0%
Retention Rate
$42,881
Median Earnings (6yr)
$49,774
Median Earnings (10yr)
67.4%
Earning Over $25K
359700.0%
Loan Repayment (3yr)

Programs & Earnings

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Graduate Certificate 42 $143,374 $39,292
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Master's 0 $99,069
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Doctoral $98,916 $60,268
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 22 $97,747 $26,200
Law First Professional 114 $83,608 $77,330
Engineering-Related Fields Bachelor's 8 $80,436
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 152 $79,109 $22,062
Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's 18 $78,778
Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's 36 $76,175 $21,136
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's 26 $75,787 $18,622
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate's 42 $73,676 $18,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 29 $68,154 $20,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate 75 $67,652 $9,500
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 20 $66,900 $18,912
Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's 52 $66,325 $21,725
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other Associate's 19 $66,120
Marketing Bachelor's 31 $65,379 $23,500
Accounting and Related Services Master's 10 $62,012
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians Certificate $60,991
Social Work Master's 47 $59,993 $35,756
Biology, General Bachelor's 22 $57,551
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's 48 $57,079 $21,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's 32 $53,587 $18,375
Social Work Bachelor's 23 $50,122 $23,873
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Certificate $50,120 $30,974
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate's 40 $49,652 $16,384
Psychology, General Bachelor's 22 $49,251 $24,075
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's 100 $49,129 $16,750
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate $48,940 $9,750
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Bachelor's 23 $48,327 $30,974
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's 13 $47,948
Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's 44 $46,497 $19,616
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate $44,667 $5,500
Security Science and Technology Bachelor's 21 $44,534 $21,250
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's 36 $43,351 $20,349
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Master's 9 $41,604 $41,000
Psychology, General Master's 6 $39,009
Precision Metal Working Certificate $38,331 $8,250
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Certificate $38,289
Legal Support Services Bachelor's 12 $33,565 $20,000
English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's 13 $32,760 $22,787
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate $31,890 $5,500
Fine and Studio Arts Bachelor's 14 $29,659
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate $27,536 $6,792
Ground Transportation Certificate $25,194
History Bachelor's 6 $25,194

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admissions statistics for Washburn University?
Washburn University is a public institution in Topeka, Kansas. Total enrollment is 4,562 students.
How much do Washburn University graduates earn?
Graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $49,774 ten years after enrollment. Six years after enrollment, median earnings are $42,881.
How much does Washburn University cost?
The average net price at Washburn University is $15,280. In-state tuition is $9,945 and out-of-state tuition is $20,949. Median student debt at graduation is $18,127.
What is the graduation rate at Washburn University?
Washburn University has a 4-year completion rate of 52.8%. The first-year retention rate is 68.0%.
Is Washburn University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Washburn University is $18,127, while graduates earn a median of $49,774 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 36% of first-year post-graduation earnings. 359700.0% of borrowers are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $192.

Data Sources

Data as of 2024-25 academic year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Primary: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Data reflects most recent available year.

Institutional characteristics: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) institutional characteristics file.

Earnings: Median earnings 6 and 10 years after enrollment, from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid data.

Program data: Credential-level earnings from the College Scorecard Field of Study dataset.

All federal data sources used on this page

Earnings data sourced from IRS records via the U.S. Treasury–Department of Education matching used by the College Scorecard.