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Pittsburg, KS · Topeka, KS
| Pittsburg State University | Washburn University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,784/yr | $15,280/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,968/yr | $20,310/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $18,969 | $18,127 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,453/yr | $9,693/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $14,676/yr | $10,758/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,873/yr | $13,922/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $20,237/yr | $15,472/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $201/mo | $192/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,234/yr | $11,501/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,980/yr | $11,313/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $807/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $5,506/yr | $3,294/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $22,099/yr | $21,512/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,400/yr | $9,945/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,744/yr | $20,949/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 30% | 34% |
| Students taking federal loans | 41% | 31% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 89% | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1050 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–24 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–23 · Math 16–23 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | No data reported |
| Applications received | 2,856 | No data reported |
| Students accepted | 2,518 | No data reported |
| Students who enrolled | 877 | No data reported |
| Accepted students who enroll | 35% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 0% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 17% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | No data reported |
| High-school transcript | Not considered | No data reported |
| Essay | Not considered | No data reported |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | No data reported |
| Class rank | Not considered | No data reported |
| College-prep program | Not considered | No data reported |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | No data reported |
| Work experience | Not considered | No data reported |
| English proficiency test | Required | No data reported |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | No data reported |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | No data reported |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 57% | 53% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $50,579/yr | $49,774/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,185–$71,917 | $32,138–$69,324 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 60% | 61% |
| White students graduating | 61% | 58% |
| Black students graduating | 43% | 31% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 36% | 52% |
| Asian students graduating | 67% | 36% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,793/yr | $42,881/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 72% | 72% |
| Graduate on time | 36% | 28% |
| Pell students who graduate | 46% | 44% |
| First-gen students who finish | 44% | 45% |
| Low-income students who finish | 41% | 42% |
| Students who transfer out | 26% | 26% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $47,079/yr | $45,837/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Liberal Arts & General Studies 38% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Engineering Technologies 9% | Health Professions 35% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 14% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% |
| Most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 38% of degrees | Health Professions — 35% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Engineering Technologies — 9% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 7% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 5% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 6% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 5% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians — $69,750/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $126,830/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 5.4% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,210 | 4,562 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,283 | 702 |
| Average professor pay | $8,130/mo | $8,816/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 62% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $49,467 | $36,446 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Pittsburg, KS | Topeka, KS |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1903 | 1865 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.6% | 5.7% |
| Men | 49% | 34% |
| Women | 51% | 66% |
| White students | 78% | 59% |
| Black students | 3.2% | 8.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8% | 16% |
| Asian students | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 6.5% | 6.6% |
| Other / not reported | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 32% | 38% |
| Part-time students | 7.6% | 16% |
| Students age 25+ | 9.3% | 19% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,572/yr | $10,422/yr |
| Endowment | $110.7M | $223.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,150 | 852 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,386/yr | $6,180/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,324/yr | $4,579/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 10 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 307 | 424 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.1M | $3.6M |
| Athletics budget | $12.4M | $11.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $12.4M | $11.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $169,649 | $116,976 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.