Best College ROI in Ks 2026
30 colleges in Ks analyzed for return on investment. Donnelly College leads with a ROI Score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ks has 30 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 8 public institutions and 22 private ones. Across the 30 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $79K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ks colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Donnelly College (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ks
Donnelly College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ks's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $15K in median debt.
Fort Hays State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Programming. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Kansas State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ks
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donnelly College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $15K | $95K | A (98) |
| 2 | Fort Hays State University(public) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Kansas State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 4 | Kansas Wesleyan University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | McPherson College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 6 | Ottawa University-Ottawa(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 7 | Southwestern College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Tabor College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (95) |
| 9 | University of Kansas(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | University of Saint Mary(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Washburn University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Bethel College-North Newton(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 13 | Central Christian College of Kansas(private) | Mathematics | $25K | $78K | A (94) |
| 14 | Friends University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 15 | Wichita State University(public) | Computer Science | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 16 | MidAmerica Nazarene University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 17 | Baker University(private) | Mathematics | $31K | $78K | A (91) |
| 18 | Pittsburg State University(public) | Industrial Production Technologies | $23K | $65K | A (84) |
| 19 | Benedictine College(private) | Mechanical Engineering | $28K | $92K | A (82) |
| 20 | Bethany College(private) | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $25K | $65K | B (79) |
College debt and earnings data for Ks is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Donnelly College has the best ROI in Ks with a score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $15K in median debt.
Across 30 Ks colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $79K.
Donnelly College graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ks has 30 colleges in our database (8 public, 22 private). Of the 30 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).