Wichita State University Overview
Wichita State University - Overview & Background
A public University, Wichita State University was founded in 1895. It is one of the three research institutions in the region of Kansas. It offers 60 undergraduate degrees, 44 Master degrees, and a few doctoral degrees too through schools such as College of Engineering, College of Education, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Health Professions, College of Fine Arts, W. Frank Barton School of Business and Graduate School.
|
Established |
September 11, 1895 |
|
Founder |
The Congregational Church |
| Also Known As |
WSU |
| Total Enrollment |
12,406 (2020) |
|
University Type |
Public Research University |
|
University City |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
Student to Faculty Ratio |
6:1 |
|
Main Campus |
Fairmount St, Wichita |
|
Campus Size |
330 acres |
|
Endowment |
$270.5 million (2020) |
|
Acceptance Rate |
79.6% |
| Graduation Rate |
54.8% |
| Employment Rate |
96.97% |
| Official Website Link | |
| Phone Number |
+1 316-978-3456 |
Wichita State University Virtual Tour
Infrastructure
The main campus of the University is located in Wichita and is spread over 330 acres. The campus is beautiful and has every conceivable facility that a student might need. The Museum of arts is located in the main campus, which also houses several research centers such as National Institute for Aviation Research, the WSU Field Station, biology research labs, chemistry research labs, and physics research labs. The campus is also dotted with many libraries that hold more than 2 million volumes.
The University also has two satellite campuses, called :
- The South Campus
- The West Campus
Residing Options
Wichita State University offers on-campus accommodation to its students and has dormitories for this purpose. The newer dormitories, though a bit expensive, are popular amongst those staying on-campus. Many students also prefer off-campus housing too.
Faculty and pedagogy
The faculty at Wichita State University is good, especially for the School of Engineering. The faculty for the Aerospace Engineering program is especially the best and most professors are helping and accommodating. The student-faculty ratio here is 6:1.
The Master’s program here is especially good for those planning to pursue a career in research as the entire Master’s programs are more research-oriented than most other masters programs at other places.
Financial aid
Being a public University, Wichita State University offers students various scholarships and grants. In fact, reports say that 59% of full-time undergraduates at WSU received some kind of need-based financial aid.
Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen: 2023-2024
- Freshmen Merit Scholarships
- Honors Merit Scholarships
- WSU National Merit Scholarships
- Shocker Neighborhood Promise Scholarship
- Sedgwick County Promise Scholarship
Other Scholarships
Jobs and Placements
Wichita State University has an enrollment of around 15,000 students. The average salary of the graduates from the university have been reported to be $64K, wherein the salary range for women graduates is $37,406 - $76,289, while for male graduates, it is $42,812 - $89,897.
The employed graduates of MS (Master of Science) in Engineering such as:
- Mechanical Engineers
- Aerospace Engineers
- Design Engineers
- Software Engineers
Earn about $48K to $143K.
The top recruiters of graduates from WSU were reported to be :
- Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.
- The Boeing Company
- Textron, Inc.
- Cargill
- Koch Industries, Inc
The employed graduates have rated five out of five for job satisfaction on Payscale.
The university also offers employment on campus by providing job opportunities such as :
- Social Media Content Developer – College Of Engineering
- Front Desk Assistant ME Department
- Tutor:
- Office Of Diversity And Inclusion
- Student Assistant (FWS)
- Office Of Diversity And Inclusion
- Student Assistant
- Business Student Assistant - Environmental Test Lab
- Performance Facilities - Student Assistant (Work-Study)
- Student Fundraising Associate
- Reception/Office Assistant Student Worker
- Student Assistant
Notable Alumni
Some famous alumni from Wichita State University include:
- Jim Bede, Founder of Bede Aviation
- Dan and Frank Carney, Co-founders of Pizza Hut
- Gary Burrell, Founder and CEO of Garmin
- Riley Pitts, US Army, First African-American commissioned officer to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
- Michael McClure, Poet, playwright, songwriter, and novelist
- Erin Dagon-Mitchell, Actress, director, playwright
- Shirley Knight, Oscar-nominated actress
- Bob Peak, Painter dubbed the "father of the modern movie poster".
Verdict
WSU is considered amongst Tier 2 colleges in the United States. Having said that, the decent research facilities and the low fees here make it a good option for students who have not been able to get admission in a Tier 1 college.
Wichita State University Location
The Wichita State University stands at the centre of midwest in the city of Wichita, Kansas, spreading at a generous 330 acres. One can have easy access to the campus through the WSU shuttle system. The 3 shuttle routes are the Metroplex Route, the Innovation Campus Route, and the Campus Route.
The travel to the campus is made more convenient by shuttle bus services as they stop at each pick-up point in every eight to ten minutes. The buses start as early as 7:30 am from Tall Oaks apartment complex at Oliver and are available until they leave the Hubbard Hall for the day at 9:50 pm.The closest airport to the university is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower (ICT) Airport which is 8.5 miles away.
Those who wish to travel by rail can take the train from Kansas City Union Station to Newton Amtrak Station which takes about 4 hours and 25 minutes after which the taxi will take 26 minutes to reach the campus.
WSU offers on-campus accommodation which consists of three options:
- Shocker Hall
- The Flats
- The Suites
Shocker Hall is primarily for the first years and offers them different forms of room styles like private and shared rooms. The flat option ranges from one, two, three to four BHK apartments that are fully furnished and located at the Innovation Campus, while The Suites is the latest addition to the housing facility which opens in fall 2019 meant for both freshmen as well as upperclassmen. The city also has a handful of apartments located within a walking distance from the university for those interested in living off-campus.
The university also offers dining options within the university, however, the students may also find appealing choices for food outside the campus. There are also a couple of places for student’s leisure and entertainment such as Ulrich Museum of Art, Pizza Hut Museum, Botanica: The Wichita Gardens, and Mort's Cigar Bar to name a few.
Wichita State University Map Location
Address: 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS 67260, United States
Frequently Asked Questions about Wichita State University
What is Wichita State University famous for?
The largest university-based centre for aviation research and development in the US is located at Wichita State University and is known as the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). Its laboratory space is more than 600,000 square feet.
Is Wichita State University a good school?
The cheapest research university, Wichita State University is a fantastic deal because of its high standards and reasonable tuition costs. With a growing population of about 700,000, Wichita, the capital of Kansas, is the state's financial, commercial, medical, cultural, and entertainment center. Hence, Wichita State University is a fantastic choice for prospective college students.
Is Wichita State University a Tier 1 school?
WSU is regarded as one of the country's Tier 2 universities. Having said that, it is still a suitable alternative for students who were unable to obtain admission to a Tier 1 college due to the respectable research facilities and affordable tuition.
Is Wichita State University d1?
In addition to a large selection of intramurals and club sports, WSU is home to 15 NCAA Division I team. As the American Athletic Conference's newest member, WSU now faces competition from other notable colleges and universities including Southern Methodist, Memphis, Cincinnati, Houston, and Connecticut.
What GPA do you need to get into WSU?
Those who possess a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 2.25 on a scale of 4.00, or obtain a minimum combined SAT ERW+M score of 1060 or an ACT composite score of at least 21 (test optional for admission), are eligible for admission at WSU.
