(Photo by: Jasmine Mills)

College is a place where experiences are made, whether it’s a teenager’s first time being independent, an individual continuing their education, or deciding to pivot to a new field and gain new expertise. No matter the myriad of reasons someone decides to pursue higher education, one thing that is consistent for everyone is the cost.

According to educationdata.org, the average tuition cost for a four-year public university in the state of Kansas for the 2025-2026 academic year is $21,631 in-state and $37,426 for out-of-state students. For a private four-year institution, the average is $47,573 in total, and for two-year institutions, the average cost for in-state students is $4,090, and $5,122 for out-of-state students.

Educationdata.org also reported that the tuition cost for public four-year institutions in the state is 11.6% less than the national average for private four-year schools, 13.7% less, while community college tuition cost is 2.37% more expensive than the national average.

How much goes into tuition and fees? For in-state Kansas residents, public four-year schools’ tuition and fees represent 47.3% of the total cost, while for out-of-state students its 69.5%

For a more specific breakdown of costs per semester and school for both undergraduate and graduate students, the Kansas Board of Regents releases reports on tuition and fees by year, so prospective students can compare costs to see what best fits their needs and budget.

Let’s say, for example, a student wants to get their graduate degree, but can’t decide between Emporia State or Pittsburg State, and cost will be a deciding factor. They can look at the Kansas Board of Regents tuition and fees report for 2026 and see that the total cost of tuition and fees, for 12-credit-hour graduate students, is $4,469.48 for Emporia State and $4,756.50

With these tools, prospective students can make more informed decisions on which school is the best fit for them without getting blindsided by finding out the costs later. The cost of college will likely always be there, but what students gain from that cost is what matters most.