University of Kansas students are facing a minimum 4.8% tuition increase starting this fall.
The total cost of tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate student enrolled in 15 credit hours will be $6,635 per semester. That does not include room and board.
The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved tuition increases for state universities for the upcoming 2026-27 school year to offset state funding cuts and rising costs.
Regents first heard fiscal proposals in May from Emporia State University, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University, KU, Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University. Of those schools, Emporia State is the only one not seeking to increase tuition.
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Tuition accounts for the largest portion of students’ costs, and required fees can add hundreds of dollars a year. Those fees are also changing this year.
KU in-state and out-of-state students will see a $91 increase in required fees this year, bringing the total to $714 for an average 15-credit-hour undergrad’s required student fee, wellness fee, and weighted average College of Liberal Arts and Sciences course fees, according to the report provided to the board.
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For a full-time in-state KU undergraduate student, tuition will rise by $272 per semester. For a full-time out-of-state student, tuition will rise by $800 per semester, for a total cost of $16,602.
KU’s increase will be 4.8% for in-state students and 5.3% for out-of-state students, the largest increase KU has had since fiscal year 2024, when tuition rose 5% after holding flat from FY 2020 through FY 2023.
KU’s in-state graduate student tuition increase will be 5.6%, for a total cost of $6,611 per 12-credit-hour semester. Out-of-state graduate student tuition will increase 5.3%, for a total of $14,704 per semester.
ESU is not increasing tuition but is proposing a $3 fee increase. According to the proposal, ESU’s ability to maintain flat tuition is the result of internal reallocation, service restructuring and an increased focus on operational efficiency and financial alignment.
Fort Hays State is proposing a 6% increase in tuition, Pittsburg State, 3.5%, and K-State, 4%.
Tuition-fees-FY-2027-State-University-Tuition-ProposalsThe state appropriation for need-based aid has remained at $34.55 million to be divided among the six schools for FY 2027.
However, for the upcoming fiscal year, the state cut the operating appropriations of KSU, KU and WSU by 2.5%, totaling approximately $9.2 million. In addition, student success block funding — which state legislators cut to $5.2 million in FY 2026 — has been eliminated for FY 2027.
KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses are estimated to have $2.4 million in increased scholarship costs, according to the proposal.
“The increase in FY 2027 costs of $21.3 million along with a decrease in overall state funding of $2.7 million results in a gap of $24 million. The proposed tuition rate increases and increased student headcount is estimated to generate $19.8 million resulting in a shortfall of $4.2 million,” according to KU’s proposal to the board. “Using the five-year financial plan, the Lawrence/Edwards Campus will continue to enhance revenues, use cash reserves, and cut costs, while maintaining high credit ratings during a time of constant change.”
See the complete proposals at this link.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
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