“First four-year university in Kansas, founded 1858, with campuses in Baldwin City, Overland Park, and Topeka.”
Baker University is a private, liberal arts university founded in 1858, holding the distinction of being the first four-year university in the state of Kansas. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the university is headquartered in Baldwin City — a quiet, historic small town roughly 30 miles south of Lawrence and 45 miles southwest of Kansas City — where its residential College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education serve traditional undergraduates. Baker also operates campuses in Overland Park (School of Professional & Graduate Studies) and Topeka (School of Nursing, in partnership with Stormont Vail Health), giving it a much larger reach than its small Baldwin City enrollment suggests. The residential Baldwin City campus offers a classically small-college experience: 42 undergraduate degrees concentrated into 35 majors across 17 fields, a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and heavy faculty accessibility that Baker students routinely cite as the defining feature of their education. Business, nursing, biology, education, and psychology are the most popular majors. Students compete athletically as the Baker Wildcats in NAIA and the Heart of America Athletic Conference across 21 varsity sports, and nearly every Baldwin City student receives institutional aid — more than 99% of on-campus students receive scholarships or grants, with talent awards extended to roughly 86% of enrollees covering fine arts, performing arts, creative writing, athletics, and student media. Baker's identity is closely tied to its traditions. Each class begins by naming itself and bequeathing the title to the incoming freshman class at graduation; freshmen arrive through their class gate on Traditions Night and exit the same way at commencement. Historic Parmenter Hall, with its landmark bell tower, anchors the 25-acre central campus. Housing options include three residence halls (Gessner, Irwin, and New Living Center) and two apartment buildings, and Baldwin City's Maple Leaf Festival each fall draws students and visitors from across Kansas. For prospective students seeking a faith-adjacent, close-knit Midwestern liberal arts experience with a strong teacher-preparation and nursing tradition, Baker is a widely recognized Kansas institution.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Highest Average Salaries in Kansas
Baker University
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admissions — Fall
International new F-1 visa applicants must apply by July 1 for Fall
Rolling Admissions — Spring
International new F-1 visa applicants must apply by mid-December for Spring
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$35,300
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Operated in partnership with Stormont Vail Health in Topeka
4 years
Baker's flagship pre-licensure nursing program is delivered in Topeka through a partnership with Stormont Vail Health, offering immediate hospital-based clinicals and a well-regarded NCLEX pass-rate history.
4 years
Small cohorts, individualized advising, and strong relationships with KU Medical Center give Baker biology graduates a competitive pathway into medical, dental, and PA programs.
4 years
Baker has prepared Kansas teachers since 1858; the program combines early classroom placements with strong connections to public and private school districts across the state.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $35,300
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
