Friends University
Friends University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Friends University at a Glance
Friends University is a private nondenominational Christian university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1898. The main building was originally built in 1886 for Garfield University but was donated in 1898 to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) by James Davis, a St. Louis business man. In the 1930s the leadership of the school was turned over to an independent board of trustees, with some representation of the Mid-America Yearly Meeting of Friends on the board. It opera…
1898
128 years old
$69M
$69.3 million (2025)
2,782
1,944 undergrad · 838 grad
319
5 acres
Identity
Is Friends University Worth It?
At a value score of 25/100, Friends University is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $52,113 — 3% below average — while paying $27,715/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
With a 2.1-year payback period, most graduates recoup their total cost of attendance relatively quickly.
A 52% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Friends University has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Friends University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in KS
Ranked #44 of 66 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #2 | Hallmark University | 54 | $12,513 | $40,183 |
| #3 | Pillar College | 49 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| #4 | Saint Vincent College | 45 | $23,510 | $59,982 |
| #5 | Judson University | 43 | $18,558 | $56,313 |
| #6 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology | 43 | $15,488 | $57,556 |
| #44 | Friends University | 25 | $27,715 | $52,113 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Friends University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in KS.
Best Programs at Friends University
The highest-earning program at Friends University is Accounting and Related Services at $49,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Human Resources Management and Services at $39,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Friends University earns $49,400, while a Human Resources Management and Services graduate earns $39,200. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $25,750 in median debt vs. $31,250 for Human Resources Management and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $27,715/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,400 | $49,400 | $25,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,300 | $42,300 | $28,250 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $39,200 | $39,200 | $31,250 |
Similar Colleges in KS
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Wichita, KS
- Student Body
- 1,048 students
- Admission Rate
- 55%
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $27,715
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $52,113
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000