Graduate Schools in Kansas | KS Graduate Programs

Rolling plains with an endless horizon. Yellow brick roads that lead to Oz. Fierce tornados and historic Civil Rights conflicts. Wyatt Earp and the Wild West.

The Sunflower State is a thrilling mix of myths and legends infused with a forward-thinking ethos enmeshed in the small towns, ranches, cities, and farms that fill the state. It’s a slow, easy pace here from the farmlands in the west to green hills and rivers in east, and one that always seems to inspire.

Why Go to Grad School in Kansas

Students going to grad school in Kansas have a variety of campus locations from which to choose. With its chill university towns, modern urban settings, and quiet small town communities, Kansas draws grad students for its relaxed pace, progressive thinking, and steady-rolling countryside. Students going to grad school in Kansas can pursue a variety of degrees in both private and public universities.

With the Kansas River running through it, the capital city of Topeka is rich in history but progressive in outlook, especially in the modern-day Civil Rights movement. The city holds historical neighborhoods, relaxing green spaces, and an eclectic mix of cultural attractions.

Kansas City, Kansas, is smaller than it’s Missouri cousin but feels more like a university town then a suburb. Here is a community that blends quiet residential neighborhoods with an almost poetic vibe, peppered as it is with libraries and intriguing historical buildings.

Part of the Kansas City metro area, Overland Park has carved an identity all its own – the town vibrates with a historic downtown, an eclectic roster of universities, and a thriving arts scene. Wichita is the state’s cultural hub – art museums, live music, cultural happenings, and beautiful parks and gardens can be a fantastic place to get inspired.

Fun Fact

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the center of the 48 contiguous United States is in Kansas; a historical marker on Highway 281, a few miles northwest of Lebanon, marks the spot.

Living and Learning in Kansas

The geographical center of the United States, Kansas maintains a quiet, unassuming presence. Towns and cities retain their proud individuality though remain connected by the numerous interstate highways, state highways, and country routes. In between the urban energy are those famous amber waves of grain and the rivers that flow easy through the state.

Temperature and Transport

Weather in Kansas is fairly consistent, with cool to cold winters and hot humid summers; however, the farther west you go, summer temps are a bit warmer with less humidity.

Airports in Kansas are largely regional, with connections to larger airports in Dallas, Denver, and Kansas City, MO. Amtrak trains Kansas stops include Lawrence, Topeka, Dodge City, and Garden City. Bus travel is also available, but the best way to get around Kansas is by car.

Culture

Kansas breathes easy and under the radar, trading international status for a steady-rolling culture, like the wide-open plains that make up the state. It quietly conservative, friendly and prefers to stay out of the spotlight even though it retains a unique progressive vibe.

The cities, though mid-size, embrace state history with a number of museums and monuments. Arts are well-curated, and you can take in intriguing collections in art institutions around the state.

Wild West culture is big here, and its rich tradition is showcased in literature and film. Kansas is all about small towns, and you can discover hidden treasure at every turn. Sports fans can see the stars of tomorrow, as minor league teams are some of the best in the nation.

The Food Scene

It’s all about the barbeque in Kansas. Kansas City-style barbeque relies on a slow pit method of cooking, with sauce giving it its unique flavor.

Fried chicken is another hearty state specialty, especially in southeastern Kansas. To be sure, you won’t go hungry—though you may have limited ways to wet your whistle.

Kansas is a conservative state, and it possesses equally conservative liquor laws. The state has many dry counties as well as counties that do not serve alcohol at all on Sunday.

Getting Outside

Outdoor enthusiasts will find much to discover and do in Kansas. Parks and historic sites, both in an out of the city, offer a bounty of opportunities – hiking, biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, fishing, and so much more.

Wildlife, tall-grass prairie, and scenic highways pepper the state, not to mention arboretums, botanical gardens, and zoos. It’s the rural pleasures that really draw, and students going to grad school in Kansas will have no shortage of stunning natural scenery to keep them inspired.

Major Kansas Industries

Kansas could be an exciting place to go to grad school. Students can find opportunities in Science & Engineering, Aviation, Education, Business, Agricultural and Technology. Some of the major employers in Kansas include Sprint, Cessna Aviation, and Kansas State University.

City Living

Graduate students will find much to explore in these urban centers, especially in Topeka and Wichita. Small town culture, Wild West and Civil Rights attractions, and easy access to Kansas’s rural pleasures highlight the urban lifestyle here. Read on!

  • Wichita
  • Overland Park
  • Kansas City
  • Topeka

Wichita

The largest city in Kansas, Wichita retains a small-town feel despite it mid-size city status – it’s charm, culture, and easygoing vibe is palpable throughout. Wander through the Sedgwick County Zoo, where you exhibits are arranged by continent. Get inspired on a stroll through the colorful themed gardens – including a Chinese Garden, a wildflower meadow, and a rainbow and sunflower plaza – at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens.

Art fans can marvel at the some 7,000 pieces at the Wichita Art Museums, while local history is recounted in a re-creation of 19th-century life at the Old Cowtown Museum. Midwest fare flavors most of the restaurant menus in Wichita, with a variety of culinary takes on steaks, barbeque, and other staples.

Old Town in downtown is where much of the action is – here you’ll find bars, galleries, museums, restaurants, and shops, all within walking distance. If you want to pursue outdoor adventures, look no further than Pawnee Prairie Park or Chisholm Creek Park.

Overland Park

Essentially part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, affluent Overland Park sparkles on its own with a mix of quiet suburban residential and urban energy. It’s the quiet gateway to Kansas City, and certainly a relaxed place to study and live.

With mild to warm temps in spring, summer, and autumn, Overland Park provides many natural escapes: stroll the walkways at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, go boating and hike trails in Shawnee Mission Park, or have a picnic at Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park.

Cultural highlights include the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum at Prairefire. An eclectic dining scene pleases equally eclectic palates, a weekly Farmers Markets shows off local goods and a entertainment, and some cool music and art festivals round the calendar.

Kansas City

On the eastern edge of the state, Kansas City mixes a relaxed urban vibe and culture with a quiet individuality that sets it apart from its same-name Missouri cousin. History is prevalent in Kansas City, and you can discover the city’s ethnic heritage at the Strawberry Hill Museum and its pioneer history at Grinter Place Museum.

Like nearby Overland Park, Kansas City holds a number of green spaces for outdoor enthusiasts to explore: explore the rocky bluffs on a hike through Roanoke Park, wander amid waterfalls and tree-lined paths in Parkville Nature Sanctuary, or picnic and play at English Landing Park.

NASCAR racing, major league soccer, and minor league baseball highlight the sports scene. The restaurant scene is manageable, and you can find standout barbeque, Tex-Mex, and other eclectic fare.

Topeka

Steeped in Civil Rights history and 19th-century folklore, the Kansas state capitol stands proud. Mural and statures adorn the domed, neoclassical capitol building, while the Kansas Museum of History showcases vintage photos, dioramas, and assorted paraphernalia. The city holds a number of interesting museums such as the Mulvane Art Museum, the Evel Knievel Museum, and the Charles Curtis House Museum.

Plenty of parks highlight the city’s outdoor pleasures: boat, swim, and fish at Lake Shawnee or wander among the 1,500 species of plants and flowers at Ted Ensley Gardens. Cafes and eclectic assortment of local restaurants round out the dining scene, while brewpubs and live music venues can take you into the night.

Fun Fact

In Council Grove, some 50 miles southwest of Topeka, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River; Hays House was opened in 1857.

Explore Graduate Schools in Kansas

Looking to find a graduate school in Kansas? You may find one that suits not only your area of study but also one that has an environment that fits your lifestyle. The following are a few highlights:

Popular Graduate Programs in Kansas

For those who pursuing a graduate degree in Kansas, you can find many opportunities in the cities of Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, and Overland Park. Other smaller communities around the state offer opportunities, as well. Here are some of the top options to study at the graduate level.

Technology

At Kansas State University, the Software Engineering graduate program covers the theories, design, verification, development, production, validation and maintenance of software products including programs, prototypes, documentation, user interfaces, training and evaluation.

The Informatics graduate curriculum at Emporia State University includes organizing and managing big data, adaptive leadership techniques, and innovative and strategic methodologies. Duke University’s Interdisciplinary Data Science graduate program offers a set of eight core courses designed to fit together as a cohesive set of learning experiences: statistics, machine learning, database management, data wrangling, data communication, analytical thinking, team management, and ethics.

At Wichita State University, the Computer Science program offers students a wide choice of courses and research opportunities in areas such as algorithms, artificial intelligence, databases, networking, operating systems, programming languages, software engineering, and symbolic computation.

Education

The Adult Learning and Leadership graduate program at Kansas State University seeks to assist working professionals who want to expand their skills in adult curriculum design, learning theories, teaching methods, and program evaluation.

At Pittsburg State University, the Teaching graduate program trains teachers for positions in high need content areas in both urban and rural schools. The graduate program in Special Education at Emporia State University is designed to improve the lives of children and youth with special needs – mild/moderate disabilities and/or those children who gifted, talented, and creative.

At Fort Hays State University, the Psychology graduate program focuses on extensive practicum and internship experiences in Clinical Psychology, General Psychology, and School Psychology.

Business

The Benedictine College Executive Masters of Business Administration Program is designed to develop new skills for experienced managers, professionals, and entrepreneurs to advance their career performance potential in large or small, public or private, for-profit or nonprofit organization.

The Finance graduate program at the University of Saint Mary grooms students for future advancement through six unique concentrations, so students customize their education in order to meet professional aspirations and become an effective leader.

At Friends University, the Global MBA program is committed to teaching major competencies in leadership, ethics, and complex business skills required for gaining a sustainable competitive advantage in a global business environment.

A master’s degree in Merchandising at Kansas State University is designed to provide merchandising knowledge that relates to consumer behavior, product design and development, issues in global trade and retail systems, professional leadership development, and retail practice, theory and management.

Science & Engineering

The Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering graduate program at Kansas State University provides both design-oriented thesis work and course-work-only programs that are closely aligned with the technical problems of modern society. At Duke University, the Cell Biology graduate program offers training in cell biology and physiology leading to the Ph.D. degree.

The Engineering Management graduate program at Wichita State University is geared toward helping engineers and technologists develop planning, decision making, and managerial skills while receiving advanced technical knowledge. At Kansas State University, the Chemical Engineering graduate program focuses on a variety areas of study including transport phenomena, thermodynamics and phase equilibrium, biochemical engineering, chemical reaction engineering, environmental pollution control, and more.

Find a Graduate School in Kansas

Want to pursue a graduate degree in Kansas? You’ll find many schools and programs from which to choose.

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