
Wichita, KSprivate nonprofitwww.newmanu.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 48%–83% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Newman University, a small Catholic institution in Wichita, Kansas, punches above its weight with a surprisingly robust biology program and a tight-knit, faith-infused campus culture. While its 47-74% acceptance rate (sources vary) makes it accessible, Newman struggles with middling graduation rates (54-56%)—yet students who stick around rave about the hands-on faculty and community feel.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Newman University's admissions process leans toward accessibility, with reported Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 47.6% (PrepScholar) to 74% (US News)—likely reflecting different applicant pools or reporting methods. The middle 50% of admitted students typically score between 17-25 on the ACT or 930-1,210 on the SAT (College Raptor). Notably, female applicants face slightly higher selectivity at 74% acceptance (Peterson's) compared to the overall rate. No early admission policy is documented in available sources.
Biology dominates at Newman with 165 declared majors—over five times more popular than runner-up psychology (30 majors). The 13:1 student-faculty ratio enables close mentorship, though freshman retention sits at a modest 70%. Recent academic shakeups added 10 new programs including agribusiness and computer science, signaling a push toward career-aligned fields. The 'Exploratory Program' helps undecided students discover majors—a smart move given Newman's vocational tilt.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
With 58.9% female undergrads (fall 2023), Newman's 2,398 students cluster in three residence halls—Beata, Carrocci, and Fugate—that foster what the catalog calls 'intellectual and social development.' The vibe leans communal and faith-based, echoing sister school Carson-Newman's emphasis on Bible studies and close-knit dorms. Campus life pitches itself as 'more than classes,' emphasizing relationship-building, though concrete traditions go unmentioned in available sources.
Newman's 56% six-year graduation rate (US News) lags behind national averages, with Pell Grant recipients faring worse at 41%. Only 48% finish within four years (Data USA). These numbers suggest students may need extra support—whether academic or financial—to cross the finish line. The university transparently shares this data, a positive sign for improvement-minded leadership.
Newman's Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator (2026-27 estimate) suggests aggressive discounting, though exact tuition figures are absent from available sources. Aid packages blend need-based grants with merit scholarships, with full-time enrollment required for most awards. The glossary's definition of net price—'what the student is expected to pay after grants'—hints at a tuition-dependent model common at small privates.
Newman's unexpected strength in biology—a rarity for small faith-based schools—makes it a dark horse for pre-health students wanting close faculty contact. The 13:1 ratio and Wichita's medical hubs (via Ascension Via Christi hospitals) provide clinical opportunities atypical for a college of its size. While graduation rates need work, Newman's honesty about outcomes and recent program expansions show a institution actively retooling for student success.