Friends University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Wichita, Kansas. It enrolls 1,048 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes22
Value16
Affordability32
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 55.2%, Friends University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
55.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
960 – 1090
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Friends University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Friends University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $27,715 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,715
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
58%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,192
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,295
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,791
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,550
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,550
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,482
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,714
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,992
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,517
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,377
Over $110,000
$31,471
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,70410%percentile
$8,25025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$29,00075%percentile
$39,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,750
↓ $6,250
No Pell $14,041
↓ $10,959
Dependent students $15,075
↓ $9,925
Independent students $21,000
↓ $4,000
Female students $17,950
↓ $7,050
Male students $15,971
↓ $9,029
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,798, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Friends University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Friends University earn a median of $52,113 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,113
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,400, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
26.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Friends University is home to 1,048 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,048
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.9%544
Hispanic 20.8%218
Black 9.9%104
Other 9.1%95
International 5.1%53
Asian 1.0%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Friends University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWichita, Kansas
Housing
Mostly residential462 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Friends University offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Friends University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$114M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,479
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
59 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
13
22%
$70,884
Associate Professors
15
25%
$56,954
Assistant Professors
25
42%
$61,297
Instructors
5
8%
$52,400
Lecturers
1
2%
$57,000
Pros & Cons of Friends University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Friends University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Friends University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Friends University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Friends University.
Is Friends University hard to get into?
Admissions at Friends University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 55.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Friends University?
Friends University has an acceptance rate of 55.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Friends University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Friends University scored between 960 and 1090 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Friends University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Friends University scored between 15 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Friends University cost?
The average net price after aid at Friends University is $27,715 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Friends University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,113 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,715 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Friends University known for?
Friends University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Mental Health Services, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Friends University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Friends University are $52,113, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Friends University accredited?
Yes. Friends University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Friends University?
Friends University enrolls 1,048 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Friends University?
Friends University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Friends University a public or private college?
Friends University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Friends University located?
Friends University is located in Wichita, Kansas.
What programs does Friends University offer?
Friends University offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Mental Health Services, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Friends University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Friends University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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