Newman University’s website lists tuition at over $58,600, but Kansas families are actually paying around $21,000 after aid. With 97% of students receiving grants averaging $22,000+, here’s how Catholic schools in Kansas really compare on what you’ll actually spend.
A college brochure lists one price. Your bank account faces another. For Kansas families weighing Catholic universities, that gap between the advertised cost and what a student actually pays can be the difference between an attainable dream and a 20-year loan. The numbers below cut through the noise.
Newman University's full published cost of attendance for a traditional on-campus undergraduate runs roughly $58,600 for the 2026-2027 academic year. That figure includes flat-rate tuition, standard fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. On paper, it looks steep. In practice, it's a starting point - one that Newman's institutional aid machinery shrinks aggressively for the overwhelming majority of enrolled students.
After grants and scholarships are applied, the typical Newman student pays closer to $21,050 per year. That's a reduction of more than half the sticker price before a single federal loan enters the picture. Newman's admissions office walks prospective students through this calculation individually, which matters because the gap between sticker and reality varies by academic profile, need, and scholarship eligibility.
The sticker price is every cost a college publishes - tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses. The net price is what remains after institutional grants, merit scholarships, and other gift aid (money that doesn't need to be repaid) are subtracted. Loans and work-study don't count as aid in this math; they're obligations. For families comparing schools, the net price is the only number worth anchoring a decision to.
This pattern holds across the private college sector, not just at Newman. The average tuition discount rate at private nonprofit colleges reached a record 56.2% for full-time first-year students in the 2022-2023 academic year, according to industry reporting. For context, the average total cost of attendance at private nonprofit four-year institutions that year was approximately $58,600, while average net prices for prior years hovered around $29,700 - a gap of roughly $29,000. Private Catholic schools in Kansas follow this same model: publish a high sticker, then discount heavily to attract and retain students.
Newman uses a flat-rate tuition model for full-time traditional undergraduates (12-19 credit hours). For 2025-2026, that rate is $18,500 per semester, totaling $37,000 per academic year - fees included in that flat figure. Part-time students pay $1,160 per credit hour plus a $210 general fee per semester. New undergraduates also pay a one-time $160 orientation fee. The flat-rate structure benefits students who take heavier course loads, since credits 13 through 19 cost nothing extra.
The full cost of attendance shifts depending on living situation. On-campus students face a COA of approximately $53,053 for fall and spring combined. Off-campus students see a slightly higher estimate - around $56,432 - driven by transportation and independent housing costs. These figures are averages used to calculate need-based aid eligibility; actual spending varies. Newman's Adult and Professional Studies (APS) pathway offers a significantly different picture: tuition drops to $3,900 per semester ($7,800 annually), with a total estimated COA around $27,232 based on APS tuition combined with standard off-campus living expenses - a compelling option for working adults or commuter students in the Wichita area.
This is the headline statistic that reframes the sticker price conversation. According to College Raptor's 2026 aid data, 97% of Newman students receive some form of grant aid, and 95% receive institutional grants specifically - money sourced from Newman's own budget, not federal programs. Only 41% of students borrow loans at all, with average borrowing around $6,737. That borrowing rate is notably low for a private university, suggesting most students bridge the gap with aid rather than debt.
The average institutional grant at Newman lands between $22,060 and $22,642 per year, with total average grant aid (including federal and state sources) reaching approximately $25,650. Measured against the on-campus COA of $53,053, that produces a net cost in the low-to-mid $20,000s for a typical student - consistent with the $21,050 figure cited above. Higher-need students and high-achieving merit scholarship recipients can push that number considerably lower.
Newman's scholarship ladder runs from meaningful automatic awards all the way to full-tuition coverage. The top competitive awards include:
Talent awards in art, digital design, theatre, and choral music layer on top of these core packages, as do athletic scholarships and Honors Program supplements.
Not every student wins a competitive scholarship - but every qualifying freshman gets something. Newman's automatic academic merit awards range from $13,000 to $16,000 per year based on high school GPA, with no test score required (test-optional). These renew for up to five years with a 2.0+ GPA and full-time enrollment - a low bar that protects the award through the full degree. Transfer students receive $10,000-$17,000 annually based on college GPA, renewable for up to three years.
Kansas has four main Catholic four-year institutions: Newman University (Wichita), Donnelly College (Kansas City), Benedictine College (Atchison), and the University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth). Each occupies a different position on the affordability spectrum.
Donnelly is the clear price leader. Its 2025-2026 sticker price runs approximately $33,796, with a reported average net price of approximately $18,283 per year. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes Donnelly among the top 100 most affordable private nonprofit four-year colleges nationally. Worth noting, though, is that Donnelly's model is structurally different: its primary focus is associate degrees, with only two bachelor's programs (Business Leadership and Nursing). Students seeking a broad four-year university experience with dozens of majors, graduate programs, or professional pathways are comparing different products.
The University of Saint Mary reports an average net price of approximately $22,460 per year, with 84% of undergraduates receiving some form of grant or scholarship aid. Its 2025-2026 tuition runs $35,550 annually for full-time students, with a total on-campus COA of approximately $51,788. Benedictine College carries the highest net price of the group at approximately $33,281 - despite 100% of freshmen receiving aid and average institutional grants of $22,000-$23,500, with a full on-campus COA of approximately $55,430. A simplified comparison:
Institution Approx. Annual Sticker (COA) Average Net Price Donnelly College ~$33,796 ~$18,283 Newman University ~$53,053 ~$21,050 Univ. of Saint Mary ~$51,788 (on-campus COA) ~$22,460 Benedictine College ~$55,430 (on-campus COA) ~$33,281
Newman's sticker price is among the highest in the group, but its net price lands second-lowest - a direct result of the volume and depth of institutional grants it distributes.
For students with strong academic profiles, the calculus shifts further. A freshman with a 3.9+ GPA who pursues competitive scholarships could receive the St. John Henry Newman Scholarship (full tuition) or Monsignor McNeill Scholarship ($20,000/year) on top of any need-based aid - pushing annual out-of-pocket costs well below $10,000 before federal grants are applied. Even students landing in the automatic merit tier ($13,000-$16,000/year) plus a Catholic Promise Grant ($16,000) are looking at combined institutional aid approaching $29,000-$32,000 annually, which substantially undercuts both Saint Mary's and Benedictine's average net prices.
Newman's sticker price is a poor predictor of actual cost. Its average net price of ~$21,050 places it second only to Donnelly among Kansas Catholic four-year schools - and for high achievers or students with demonstrated financial need, the real number can be lower still. Donnelly remains the most affordable option on average, but for a full university experience with broad major choices, graduate programs, and competitive merit aid, Newman's value proposition holds up well against every other Catholic four-year option in the state.
Check out programs, scholarship deadlines, and financial aid options at Newman University, a Wichita-based Catholic university dedicated to making higher education accessible through substantial institutional aid and merit scholarships.
