Kansas for College Students
Kansas's college-town identities are genuinely distinct: the University of Kansas's large, Big 12 flagship experience in Lawrence, Kansas State University's own record-growing Manhattan campus, Wichita State's fast-growing urban-university setting, and Washburn University's smaller Topeka campus each offer a genuinely different scale and character.
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Learn moreThe University of Kansas anchors a large, record-enrollment flagship experience in Lawrence
The University of Kansas, in Lawrence, enrolled a real 31,169 students for fall 2025, per this pass's own research -- a record for the second consecutive year, up 1.3% (399 students) from fall 2024's previous record, and including the third-largest freshman class in KU history at 5,040 students. KU is a Big 12 member, and Lawrence itself carries a real, historic abolitionist/Free-State heritage, including the documented 1863 Lawrence Massacre.
Kansas State University anchors its own record-growing college-town experience in Manhattan
Kansas State University's Manhattan campus enrolled a real 21,213 students for fall 2025, per this pass's own research -- up 4.5% from 20,295 in fall 2024, marking a third consecutive year of enrollment growth. K-State is a Big 12 member, and Manhattan carries the informal 'Little Apple' nickname, with real proximity to Fort Riley, home to the 1st Infantry Division.
Wichita State University anchors a fast-growing, urban-campus experience in Kansas's largest city
Wichita State University reached a real, historic-high combined enrollment of 25,147 students for fall 2025 (including WSU Tech), per this pass's own research -- main-campus enrollment of 18,458, up 4.3% and marking a fifth consecutive year of growth, plus WSU Tech's own record 6,689 students, up 9.6%. Wichita State ('the Shockers') competes in the American Athletic Conference, giving students direct proximity to Wichita's real aviation-manufacturing employer base.
Washburn University offers a genuinely smaller, capital-city campus experience in Topeka
Washburn University, in Topeka, enrolled a real 7,722 students for fall 2025 (6,170 at the University, 1,552 at Washburn Tech), per this pass's own research -- a third consecutive year of enrollment growth, with the Washburn School of Law's incoming class up 9.2% to 139 students, its largest since 2010. Research your specific target campus's current enrollment trends and community character directly, and confirm current severe-weather safety protocols directly with your target institution given Kansas's real, statewide tornado and hail exposure.
Key takeaways
- The University of Kansas, in Lawrence, enrolled a record 31,169 students for fall 2025 (a second consecutive record year), including the third-largest freshman class in KU history (5,040).
- Kansas State University's Manhattan campus enrolled 21,213 students for fall 2025, up 4.5% from fall 2024 -- a third consecutive year of enrollment growth.
- Wichita State University reached a historic-high combined 25,147 students for fall 2025 (18,458 main campus, up 4.3%; 6,689 WSU Tech, up 9.6%), a fifth consecutive year of main-campus growth.
- Washburn University, in Topeka, enrolled 7,722 students for fall 2025 (6,170 University, 1,552 Tech), a third consecutive year of growth, with its Law School's incoming class the largest since 2010.
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