Best Online Master’s Programs in Kansas 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN KANSAS

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Updated: Jan 8, 2024

Key Takeaways

There are 10 online colleges in Kansas that offer master’s degrees that can be completed entirely online.
Manufacturing and agriculture are two of the biggest industries in Kansas, and there are a number of fully online master’s programs that can open career opportunities within these sectors.
The average cost of the best online master’s program in Kansas are lower than the national average, making the state a great choice for furthering your education.

University of Kansas
Kansas State University
Wichita State University
Washburn University
Baker University
Pittsburg State University
Fort Hays State University
Tabor College
Sterling College
Newman University, Wichita

Wichita State University 95%
Kansas State University 95%
Baker University 92%
University of Kansas 88%
Fort Hays State University 88%
Pittsburg State University 86%
Sterling College 61%
Tabor College 53%
Newman University, Wichita 51%

Wichita State University 20 to 1
Kansas State University 18 to 1
University of Kansas 17 to 1
Tabor College 15 to 1
Fort Hays State University 15 to 1
Pittsburg State University 14 to 1
Washburn University 13 to 1
Baker University 13 to 1
Newman University, Wichita 10 to 1
Sterling College 9 to 1

Tabor College $35,050
Newman University, Wichita $34,400
Baker University $32,320
Sterling College $30,000
University of Kansas $10,092
Kansas State University $9,489
Washburn University $9,016
Wichita State University $6,848
Pittsburg State University $5,836
Fort Hays State University $4,140

Sterling College $14,107
Tabor College $12,000
Baker University $11,466
Kansas State University $10,294
University of Kansas $9,989
Washburn University $9,790
Newman University, Wichita $7,920
Pittsburg State University $6,820
Wichita State University $5,544
Fort Hays State University $3,729

Fort Hays State University
Washburn University
Pittsburg State University
Sterling College
Newman University, Wichita
Tabor College
Baker University
Wichita State University
Kansas State University
University of Kansas

Newman University, Wichita
Sterling College
Tabor College
Fort Hays State University
Pittsburg State University
Baker University
Washburn University
Wichita State University
Kansas State University
University of Kansas

Newman University, Wichita 51%
Tabor College 53%
Sterling College 61%
Pittsburg State University 86%
Fort Hays State University 88%
University of Kansas 88%
Baker University 92%
Kansas State University 95%
Wichita State University 95%

Sterling College 9 to 1
Newman University, Wichita 10 to 1
Washburn University 13 to 1
Baker University 13 to 1
Pittsburg State University 14 to 1
Tabor College 15 to 1
Fort Hays State University 15 to 1
University of Kansas 17 to 1
Kansas State University 18 to 1
Wichita State University 20 to 1

Fort Hays State University $4,140
Pittsburg State University $5,836
Wichita State University $6,848
Washburn University $9,016
Kansas State University $9,489
University of Kansas $10,092
Sterling College $30,000
Baker University $32,320
Newman University, Wichita $34,400
Tabor College $35,050

Fort Hays State University $3,729
Wichita State University $5,544
Pittsburg State University $6,820
Newman University, Wichita $7,920
Washburn University $9,790
University of Kansas $9,989
Kansas State University $10,294
Baker University $11,466
Tabor College $12,000
Sterling College $14,107

Table of Contents

Prospective students interested in pursuing an online master’s program from one of the top online colleges in Kansas can choose from a wide range of excellent schools that offer many excellent master’s programs, such as cybersecurity, nursing, and MBA’s. The Sunflower State is home to numerous public and private colleges offering excellent graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines.

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Kansas

Kansas has nine public universities, the largest being the University of Kansas (KU) with over 28,000 students. The school’s main campus is located in Lawrence, Kansas, but there are four other campus locations where students can attend KU classes in person: Overland Park, Kansas City, Wichita, and Salina.

The University of Kansas is also tops in our list of the best online master’s programs in Kansas, and there are plenty of online master’s programs for students seeking distance education. Even better, it should also be noted that online students attending the University of Kansas will be charged the same tuition rate regardless of their state of residency.

If you are a high school student interested in attending college in Kansas, find college admissions consultants in your area.

Kansas is also home to 22 private colleges and universities, with tuition ranging from $7,000 to $31,000. In addition, students can choose from one of 18 religiously affiliated schools, including Newman University, Wichita — a Catholic liberal arts university serving the state’s largest private school student population at just over 2,000.

Kansas also boasts an array of affordable options for online learners. The average tuition for a year of college in Kansas is $9,230, which is below the national average.

Colleges and universities in Kansas offer online master’s programs popular fields of study such as business, computer science, engineering, education, healthcare and medical fields, technology, and more. Specialized degrees include homeland security at the University of Kansas and agribusiness from Kansas State University.

Students who earn degrees in the medical and health care fields may have access to loan forgiveness-based programs, such as the Kansas State Loan Repayment Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. These financial aid programs award healthcare professionals with tax free funds to help repay student loans in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an eligible practice site in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Teachers interested in pursuing an online master’s degree in the field of education may also qualify for loan forgiveness programs in the state of Kansas. The state is currently experiencing a teacher shortage in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, or bilingual education.

What are Kansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Kansas’s Best Overall

How do we determine Kansas's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

a graduate student meets with a team of business professionals

Best Online Master’s Program in Kansas 2023

What are the top industries in Kansas?

Why should you consider Kansas for online master’s programs? The best online colleges in Kansas offer master’s degrees that open career opportunities in some of the best industry sectors in the state. Following are the top industries in Kansas and the online master’s degrees that can be useful for obtaining a job within each industry:

Student Submitted Questions about Online Master’s Programs in Kansas

How much does an online master’s degree in Kansas cost?

If an affordability is an important consideration in choosing an online master’s program, the public universities in Kansas are a solid option, offering some of the best online programs at a comparatively low cost.

In the United States, the average cost of an online master’s degree program at a public school was $12,394, but the average cost of the online programs we feature in this ranking hover around $10,000.

The cost for private, non-profit grad schools in Kansas is very comparable with the average cost of $28,445 for a private college in the United States in 2020-21.

An online master’s degree will cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree or about 5-10% higher for technology and specialized online instruction training.

However because online master’s degrees do not include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees, you could still save a lot of money. Accelerated online programs, which can be completed in 12-18 months, will allow you to save more money on tuition.

What can I expect from an online college course in Kansas?

First-time online students will require some adjustments. While the online courses will have the same content as the on-campus courses, online courses require independent study. You must be great at managing your time, tech-savvy, and hyper-focused.

Create a suitable workspace, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with faculty and peers. You need to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Do employers in Kansas respect online master’s degree programs?

Employers will value your online master’s degree if earned from a well-regarded, regionally accredited online college, like the colleges and universities in this ranking.

Traditional colleges offering online programs will not place an indicator that your degree was earned through online learning. Your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

In most cases, employers are likely to value your online degree as evidence of your professional skills, such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech-savvy.

What are the advantages of online classes in Kansas?

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or a quiet conference room at work.

In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities and educational experiences that you can complete on your schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.

And, of course, just as some learners prefer the energy of a live classroom, some learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Kansas?

The online learning experience is not for students who only thrive on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, require physical interaction to feel engaged or consider the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of their courses.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through online master’s programs, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you adjust to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

Kansas’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Kansas 2024

Key Takeaways

Top Online Master's Programs in Kansas

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Kansas

What are Kansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Kansas 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Kansas

What do graduate students love about the online master’s programs at the University of Kansas?

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Kansas State University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Wichita State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Baker University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Tabor College

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Newman University, Wichita

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Sterling College

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Pittsburg State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Washburn University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Fort Hays State University

Online Master’s Degrees

What are the top industries in Kansas?

Advanced Manufacturing

Corporate & Professional Services

Logistics & Distribution

Food Processing and Manufacturing

Aerospace & Defense

Animal Health

Bioscience

Agriculture

Energy & Natural Resources

Student Submitted Questions about Online Master’s Programs in Kansas

How much does an online master’s degree in Kansas cost?

What can I expect from an online college course in Kansas?

Do employers in Kansas respect online master’s degree programs?

What are the advantages of online classes in Kansas?

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Kansas?

Kansas’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest