
Topeka, KSprivate forprofitrasmussen.edu
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.
Rasmussen University-Kansas is a private, career-focused institution in Topeka that operates with a distinctly pragmatic, no-frills ethos. It functions as an open-access gateway, primarily for adult learners and career-changers seeking direct pathways into high-demand fields like nursing and business through accelerated, quarter-based terms. The environment is stripped of traditional residential college life, prioritizing flexible online and on-campus schedules, industry-aligned curriculum, and support services aimed at getting students into the workforce as efficiently as possible.
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Outcomes & value
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.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
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.
Rasmussen University-Kansas maintains an open admissions policy, meaning it accepts all applicants who meet basic requirements. Multiple sources confirm a 100% , reflecting its mission to provide accessible career education. The admissions process is designed to be straightforward and supportive, with prospective students encouraged to contact an admissions representative directly to start their online application and discuss the collection of any previous college transcripts. The institution does not appear to publish or emphasize standardized test score ranges (SAT/ACT) for admission, as its focus is on career preparation and accessibility rather than selective academic screening. This open-door approach is central to its identity as a gateway for non-traditional and working adult students.
The academic model is intensely career-focused, structured around fast-paced, quarter-based terms designed for rapid completion. Rasmussen offers degrees primarily in high-demand professional fields, with Healthcare, Nursing, Business, Technology, and Criminal Justice being prominent areas of study. At the Kansas campus specifically, the programmatic focus appears particularly concentrated; one source indicates that the only major offered is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, with an average of 25 students awarded a degree in that field. More broadly, the university emphasizes a hands-on curriculum and academic preparation for industry certifications. The learning environment is described as fast-paced, catering to hard-working and motivated students seeking a direct line from the classroom to a career. Class sizes and faculty are geared toward practical, applied learning rather than broad liberal arts exploration.
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.
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Student life at Rasmussen University-Kansas is defined by its commuter and adult-learner population, with no traditional residential campus experience. The total undergraduate enrollment across the Rasmussen University system was 8,054 as of fall 2023, but the Kansas campus community is a subset of this. The environment is "student-focused" but in a professional, support-service oriented way rather than a social one. Students have access to career services, academic advisors, tutors, library services, and learning communities. The university promotes a sense of community at its Kansas City/Overland Park campus, noting students are part of a national and local network. However, organized student clubs, Greek life, and athletics are not highlighted as central components. The provided student life guides point to resources for well-being, financial literacy, and civic engagement, underscoring a support system built around enabling academic and career success for non-traditional students managing work and family commitments.
Outcome metrics reflect the profile of its student body and the institution's career-oriented mission. According to the canonical figures, the graduation rate is 45% and the median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,080. Other sources report similar figures, with one noting a 40% graduation rate and another citing a 48% rate. The university's own disclosure reports a 47% institutional graduation rate and a 49% "one-year success rate." Time-to-completion data shows that in 2021, only 25% of students graduated within 100% of the "normal time" for their program (e.g., 4 years for a 4-year degree), indicating many students take longer, which is typical for part-time and adult learners. The earnings outcome, while below the national median for bachelor's degrees, represents a significant potential uplift for students entering from lower-wage work, particularly in the nursing and healthcare fields the school emphasizes.
The cost structure is typical of private, for-profit career colleges. The canonical average after aid is $23,980. Published tuition and fees are listed at $37,104, with an average student grant aid of $7,115. About 80% of students receive some form of grant aid. The university provides a detailed (COA) that serves as the basis for determining financial need and aid packages, which can include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. Notably, the university has specific tuition rate thresholds ($267 per credit for full-time, $340 for part-time) below which students are not eligible for certain grants. There is no indication in the provided sources that Rasmussen University-Kansas meets 100% of demonstrated financial need or has a no-loan policy; its aid appears to be a mix of federal/state grants, institutional grants, and loans. The financial aid team positions itself as a resource to answer common questions about the process.
Rasmussen University-Kansas stands out for its unapologetic, singular focus on career acceleration for non-traditional students. It doesn't try to be a miniature liberal arts college or a research university. Instead, it offers a stripped-down, efficient model: open admissions, fast-paced quarters, and curriculum tightly lashed to fields like nursing, business, and technology where jobs are plentiful. This makes it a specific tool for a specific job—ideal for the adult learner, career-changer, or someone seeking a credentialed skill path with minimal downtime. The 100% isn't a mark of low standards but a philosophical commitment to accessibility. The trade-off is the lack of a traditional campus life and the financial burden of private tuition, but for students whose clear goal is a career pivot or advancement on a compressed timeline, Rasmussen provides a direct, no-frills route that many four-year institutions do not.