Washburn University

What Washburn University does

Washburn University is a publicly funded, independently governed municipal university located in Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1865 and converted from a private institution to a public municipal university by citizen vote on February 6, 1941. The institution enrolls approximately 7,700 students across a 160-acre main campus, a Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) campus on Huntoon, and an East Topeka facility, serving traditional undergraduates, graduate and professional students, international students (300+ from 41 countries), technical/vocational learners, and non-traditional/transfer students. It offers over 200 academic programs across six academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Studies, Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business (AACSB-accredited), Harmony J. Hines School of Nursing, School of Law, and Washburn Institute of Technology, awarding certificates through Juris Doctor degrees.

The institution generates FY2023 operating revenue of $132 million across four primary streams: tuition and fees (enrollment grew 5% in fall 2023 to ~4,570 FTE main-campus plus 987 FTE at Washburn Tech), city and county tax revenues (26% of operating revenue), state appropriations, and auxiliary services (housing, dining, bookstore). Pricing is structured at $365 per credit hour for undergraduate tuition, supplemented by over $53 million in financial aid. The underlying technology stack consists of standard learning management systems and academic platforms; no proprietary AI or digital product is disclosed. Financial strength is demonstrated by a Moody's A1 issuer rating (stable outlook), $46 million of outstanding debt, a 21% EBIDA margin, and 2.2x cash and investments coverage of operating expenses.

Washburn competes in NCAA Division II athletics within the MIAA conference and is supported by approximately 1,000 faculty and staff. Strategic initiatives include the Athletics Corridor Master Plan (announced January 2026), major philanthropic commitments from the Patterson Family Foundation ($1M for rural law) and the Lammers family ($500K challenge gift for tennis), and new leadership appointments across Student Life and the School of Nursing. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer via traditional high school and transfer student recruitment, campus visits, virtual tours, and a broad social media presence (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, BlueSky) backed by the university's KTWU public television station reaching 1.6 million viewers.

Name

Washburn University

Legal name

Washburn University

Website

https://washburn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Washburn University is a publicly funded municipal university in Topeka, Kansas, serving approximately 7,700 students across 200+ academic programs in liberal arts, business, nursing, law, and technical education from certificate through Juris Doctor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate professional degrees
• Technical vocational training
• Continuing legal education

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and fees charged to students for academic programs including undergraduate, graduate, professional (law), and technical education (Washburn Tech). Enrollment grew 5% in fall 2023.
2. City and County Tax Revenues: City property taxes, county sales taxes account for 26% of operating revenue. On February 6, 1941, citizens of Topeka voted to operate Washburn as a public municipal university.
3. State Appropriations: State appropriations from Kansas government for public university operations.
4. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from on-campus housing, dining services, bookstore, and other student services.
5. Grants and Donations: External funding from foundations (Patterson Family Foundation $1M grant), alumni donations, and government grants for specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Washburn University is a public municipal university that delivers higher education programs ranging from certificates and associate degrees to bachelor's, master's, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Juris Doctor degrees across over 200 academic programs. It operates through six academic units including the College of Arts and Sciences, Schools of Applied Studies, Business (AACSB-accredited), Nursing, Law, and the Washburn Institute of Technology. Students enroll through direct admission at the 160-acre main campus or the Washburn Tech campus in Topeka, Kansas, paying per-credit-hour tuition supplemented by city, county, and state funding.

Product overview

Washburn University is a comprehensive public higher education institution offering over 200 academic programs through six primary academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Applied Studies, Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business, Harmony J. Hines School of Nursing, School of Law, and Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech). The university offers certification, associate, bachelor's, master's, doctor of nursing practice, and juris doctor degrees across its 160-acre main campus in Topeka, Kansas and the Washburn Tech campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Arts and Sciences The primary liberal arts college offering undergraduate degrees across multiple academic disciplines within Washburn University. Targets students pursuing bachelor's degrees in arts and sciences fields.
• School of Applied Studies School offering applied degree programs focusing on practical, career-oriented education at Washburn University.
• Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business Business school offering undergraduate and graduate business degrees, including accounting, finance, and management programs. Maintains prestigious AACSB International accreditation. Targets students pursuing business credentials.
• Harmony J. Hines School of Nursing Nursing school at Washburn University offering nursing degrees including the Doctor of Nursing Practice and preparing graduates for healthcare careers. Celebrated 50 years of operation. Targets students pursuing nursing credentials.
• Washburn University School of Law Law school offering Juris Doctor degrees and continuing legal education programs, located in the Robert J. Dole Hall. Offers scholarships and grants for students interested in rural law practice. Targets students pursuing legal careers.
• Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) Technical and vocational education campus on Topeka's west side offering certificate programs and associate degrees in trades and technical fields. Enrolls approximately 987 FTE students. Targets students seeking practical workforce skills training.
• KTWU Public Television Washburn University's Emmy award-winning public television station on Channel 11, reaching approximately 1.6 million viewers in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Provides public broadcasting programming to the regional community.
• NCAA Division II Athletics Program Washburn Ichabods athletics program competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) across 16 men's and women's sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country, and track & field. Targets student-athletes and sports fans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% enrollment growth in fall 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Capper FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Topeka-based nonprofit hosting iCan Bike program. Washburn University Kinesiology Department volunteers support individuals with disabilities learning to ride bicycles during the five-day program at Central Park Community Center.
• iCan ShineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Nationally recognized nonprofit organization running iCan Bike program. Uses specialized equipment, coaching and encouragement to help participants gain confidence to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently in five days. Nearly 70 camps scheduled across US and Canada in summer 2026.
• FIFAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Washburn Cheer and Dance teams working FIFA Fan Festival at National WWI Museum and Memorial during FIFA World Cup 2026 in Kansas City. Six match dates from June 16 to July 11, 2026. Expected to draw 650,000+ visitors with $650 million economic impact.
• KTWUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTWU is Washburn University's public television station (Channel 11). First public TV station in Kansas, broadcasting since 1965. Reaches approximately 1.6 million viewers in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
• MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashburn competes as members of MIAA, described as the most competitive conference in all of NCAA Division II. University competes in 16 men's and women's sports.
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashburn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Many individual programs have additional accreditations including AACSB for School of Business.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pittsburg State University: Kansas Board of Regents regional public with comparable enrollment and an MIAA Division II athletics profile; competes directly with Washburn for Kansas regional applicants and professional-program talent.
• University of Central Missouri: Mid-sized public comprehensive regional university and MIAA conference peer; overlaps directly with Washburn on program breadth, professional credentials, and recruitment geography.
• Emporia State University: Another Kansas Board of Regents regional public university of comparable enrollment scale (~5,000 students) sharing the Kansas higher-ed funding environment and competing for the same in-state student pool.
• Lindenwood University: MIAA conference peer and mid-sized comprehensive regional university operating across a comparable enrollment scale and program portfolio; useful comparison for governance and capital-structure data.
• Missouri Western State University: Regional public university of similar enrollment scale in neighboring Missouri, MIAA conference member, and competitor for border-state and transfer students in the Kansas City labor market.
• Fort Hays State University: Kansas Board of Regents regional public with similar enrollment scale and a strong online/dual-enrollment orientation; MIAA conference peer making it a direct athletic and recruitment competitor.
• Northwest Missouri State University: Regional public comprehensive and MIAA Division II competitor; comparable enrollment size and cost structure make it a clean read-across on operating economics for a Washburn-style regional institution.

Regional players

• Baker University: Kansas-based private university with comparable program breadth and enrollment scale; serves the same regional Topeka/Wichita market with a private-tuition model, making it a relevant tuition-strategy comp.
• Northeastern State University (Oklahoma): MIAA conference peer and small regional public comprehensive; not a direct Kansas-recruiting competitor but a useful read-across on program economics and donor-driven capital campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• Wichita State University: Larger Kansas urban research-adjacent public university; not a 1:1 competitor but overlaps on professional programs (business, nursing) and competes for the same in-state talent pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/washburnuniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/washburnuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/51023447368
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washburn-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/washburnuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@washburnuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washburn University