Washburn University

Public · KS

Photo: P e z i (CC BY-SA 3.0 at)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationKS · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads4,562

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate27.6%

6-yr grad rate53%

Drop-out rate32%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$21k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity40.9%

Gender diversity66.1%

International5.7%

Identity—

Overview

A university in Topeka, Kansas, one of the few remaining municipally chartered universities in the country — a governance structure that sets it apart from typical public or private institutions and ties it closely to the city itself.

Academics

Law, nursing, and criminal justice are the university's most notable programs; the law school in particular benefits from Topeka's status as state capital, giving students access to the Kansas legislature, state courts, and state agencies for internships and networking uncommon at a school this size.

Campus & student life

Being located in the state capital shapes much of student life for pre-law, criminal justice, and public-policy-minded students, who can find government and legal internships within walking or short driving distance. The campus itself has a fairly traditional, moderate-size university feel within a mid-size capital city.

Getting in

Admission is generally accessible for the undergraduate population, with the law school following its own separate, more selective admissions process typical of law schools generally.

Worth knowing

The municipal charter and capital-city location together make Washburn's government and legal internship access a genuine differentiator, particularly for students aiming at law, public policy, or criminal justice careers.

washburn.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate—

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot reported

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying