Which Kansas colleges have best value? Here’s what SmartAsset says

Ever wondered which colleges and universities have the best cost-to-payout ratio?

Washburn University was among Kansas’s top 10 “best value colleges,” according to SmartAsset, an American financial technology company.

“This survey reflects data gathered prior to recent initiatives and utilizes out-of-state tuition rates, rather than in-state rates,” Washburn strategic communications and marketing executive director Lori Hutchinson said in a written statement. “However, it underscores the catalyst for the aggressive enhancements we have implemented over the last two years to better support students through local and regional scholarships.

“More than 90% of our students are from Kansas, and we are proud to be the only 4-year, open-access public university in the state. Our ongoing efforts demonstrate our commitment to providing affordable, high-quality education to students who call Kansas home.”

SmartAsset chose the best value colleges and universities by looking at five categories:

• Tuition.
• Student living costs.
• Scholarship and grant offerings.
• Student retention rate.
• Starting salary for new graduates.

“We then compared the factors that illustrate a student’s return on investment,” SmartAsset’s website stated. “Student retention rate shows the percentage of students that are re-enrolling at the institution from year-to-year. The average starting salary shows the potential financial earnings of new graduates when they enter the workforce.