Online Data Analytics Degree in Kansas: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Kansas employs about 490 data scientists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through job postings in your target market for the tools they name. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare data analytics programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Kansas

Data analytics is not licensed. Employers typically screen on demonstrated SQL, visualization and statistics skill; vendor certificates are common but optional, and the degree’s business coursework is what separates the analytics route from a bootcamp.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with job postings in your target market for the tools they name that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 6 schools within 95 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 6 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS 94.7 miles away BOC Score 72.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • Strong Hall, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Room 230 Lawrence, KS 66045
  • (785) 864-2700
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 25
  • Annual completions: 730
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,680 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 58.0 miles away BOC Score 67.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 619
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,711 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Newman University

Wichita, KS 56.7 miles away BOC Score 57.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 53.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 52
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,857 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 76.2 miles away BOC Score 53.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 396
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,774 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 51.6 miles away BOC Score 51.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 709
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,707 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Sterling College

Sterling, KS 75.3 miles away BOC Score 31.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 38
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,980 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Data Scientists Earn in Kansas

Data Scientists in Kansas earn a median $98,130 per year, below the national median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Data Analytics Pay and Employment in Kansas at a Glance

MetricKansasNationalSource
Median annual wage$98,130$120,230BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$60,520$67,240BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$75,970$85,660BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$131,390$158,880BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$154,990$199,130BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment490262,440BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.21.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state33.5%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Kansas Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Kansas median of $98,130 sits below the national median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.2 puts Kansas below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Kansas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Topeka$94,78040
Wichita$94,68070

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Analyst roles exist across every industry, so this market tracks total employment, with extra depth where corporate headquarters and health systems cluster.

Data Scientists Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), data scientists wages in Kansas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Kansas City1,260$99,870$102,480$61,820$149,060
Wichita70$94,680$105,510$67,840$153,540
Joplin60$96,650$96,110$52,720$147,350
Topeka40$94,780$102,080$57,190$147,420

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do data scientists make in Kansas?

The median annual wage for data scientists in Kansas is $98,130, below the national median of $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $75,970 at the 25th percentile to $131,390 at the 75th.

How many data scientists work in Kansas?

Kansas holds about 490 data analyst jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 262,440, and BLS projects about 23,400 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a data analyst in Kansas?

Data analytics is not licensed. Employers typically screen on demonstrated SQL, visualization and statistics skill; vendor certificates are common but optional, and the degree's business coursework is what separates the analytics route from a bootcamp. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with job postings in your target market for the tools they name before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a data analytics bachelor's or master's online while working in Kansas?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies job postings in your target market for the tools they name.

What is the highest-paying area of Kansas for data scientists?

Among Kansas metro areas with published data, Topeka reports the highest median at $94,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Kansas a good state for data scientists?

On pay, the state median of $98,130 sits below the national $120,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.2 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.