The Best Business Schools in Kansas City for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Kansas City
- William Jewell College ranks #1 in the Kansas City area on an 84.6 Program Score, with a 68% graduation rate.
- Every school on this list is private.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Park University, ranks #2.
- Programs analyzed
- 91
- Schools ranked
- 7
- Tuition range
- $11,018-$40,200
- Average graduation rate
- 52%
We analyzed 91 accredited business programs in Kansas City and the surrounding metro and ranked 7 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 7 ranked schools runs from $11,018 to $40,200 a year, a $29,182 spread for the same credential.
William Jewell College leads with an 84.6 Program Score on a 68% graduation rate, at $19,320 a year. Across all 7 ranked business schools in Kansas City the average graduation rate is 52%, ranging from 38% to 68%.
The Top Business Schools in Kansas City at a Glance
William Jewell College leads at 84.6, and Concorde Career College-Kansas City closes the chart at 66.2. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Kansas City Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 7 Best Business Schools in Kansas City, Ranked for 2027
The 7 best Business Schools in Kansas City, ranked by outcomes.
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 68%
- Admit rate
- 38%
- In-state
- $19,320
- Out-of-state
- $19,320
William Jewell College's accounting program lists internship placements at firms including KPMG, PwC, E&Y and Grant Thornton, but its 124-credit degree is not built for the CPA 150-hour rule.
- 68% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.6
- $19,320 tuition
- Big 4 internship placements
William Jewell College offers a Bachelor of Science in accounting. The program page says faculty help students secure accounting internships, network with business leaders and prepare for the CPA exam. Students build accounting, business and professional skills, including applying financial models, working with ethical standards and using relevant technology, and the program follows the core competencies suggested by the AICPA and the Institute of Management Accountants. The page lists internship and job placements at firms such as KPMG, PwC, E&Y, Grant Thornton and Forvis Mazars. It states plainly that the degree requires 124 credit hours and was not designed to meet the 150-hour requirement for CPA exam eligibility, so licensure candidates need additional coursework.
William Jewell reports a 68% graduation rate and a 38% admit rate, so the school is selective. It is private, with tuition of $19,320 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 84.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a small college accounting degree with a strong internship network and who understand that a CPA path will require extra credits beyond the degree.
Park University
Parkville, MO · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 38%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $11,018
- Out-of-state
- $11,018
Park University's Corporate Financial Management B.S.B.A. is a 120-credit degree available online or on campus with online courses.
- Program Score 78.7
- $11,018 tuition
- Open admission
- Online or on-campus delivery
Park University's Corporate Financial Management degree is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration that totals 120 credit hours and is offered online or on campus with online courses. The page says it develops core business skills such as budgeting and valuation, along with knowledge of investing and financial analysis. Coursework covers statistics, economics and business analytics, then financial markets, portfolio management and commercial banking, including a look at the Federal Reserve System and the money supply. Students also learn insurance and risk management, evaluate financial statements and perform risk assessments. Park lists financial manager, financial analyst and corporate auditor as career paths, and graduates need a 2.0 GPA in the major and at least 30 credit hours earned at Park.
Park reports a 38% graduation rate and is an open admission school. Tuition is $11,018 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 78.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a finance degree with an online option and no admissions hurdle, such as transfer students and working adults. Because the graduation rate is modest, students should plan their schedule carefully.
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $36,174
- Out-of-state
- $36,174
MidAmerica Nazarene University's on-campus business administration degree totals 126 credits, including 60 in the major, and the school reports ACBSP accreditation.
- 54% graduation rate
- Program Score 71.7
- $36,174 tuition
- 126-credit on-site degree
MidAmerica Nazarene University offers a business administration bachelor's degree that meets on-site in Olathe. The curriculum totals 126 credit hours: 42 to 50 in general education, 60 in the major and 16 to 24 in electives. Classes cover accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing, and the school says students also build skills in problem solving, team building and presentations. Teaching takes place in the context of Christian moral values and ethical decision-making. Students can join the Delta Mu Delta honor society chapter and the National Society of Leadership and Success. The school reports the program is accredited through ACBSP.
Federal data show a 54% graduation rate and a 79% admit rate at MNU. Tuition is $36,174 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 71.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits traditional-age students who want a classroom business degree on a faith-based campus, with early action available for high school juniors. Applicants should plan around the 126-credit total, which is longer than the 120 credits many bachelor's programs require.
Avila University
Kansas City, MO · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- In-state
- $40,200
- Out-of-state
- $40,200
A BSBA in Management that pairs a full business core with 18 hours of HR, operations and supply chain electives.
- 52% graduation rate
- Program Score 71.6
- $40,200 tuition for all students
- 18 hours of HR and operations electives
Avila University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Management major. Students complete the business core, including accounting, business law, communications, economics, statistics, finance, marketing, and a strategic management course. They then choose 18 hours of management electives such as human resources management, labor-management relations, operations management, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, and supply chain management. The page notes the program can include relevant psychology courses and prepares students for graduate school, and it encourages internships with local firms. Career paths named include compensation analyst, labor relations specialist and employee relations specialist roles, along with entry-level management positions, organizational development and consulting.
Avila graduates 52% of its students and admits 88% of applicants. In-state tuition is $40,200, the same as out-of-state, since the school is private. The program carries a Program Score of 71.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a people-focused management degree in the Kansas City area with room to specialize in human resources or operations.
Calvary University
Kansas City, MO · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state
- $12,570
- Out-of-state
- $12,570
A Christian business degree with five tracks, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and a five-year path to a master's in organization development.
- 52% graduation rate
- Program Score 70.9
- $12,570 tuition for all students
- Five tracks, 5-year BS-MS option
Calvary University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration grounded in a biblical worldview and aimed at leaders in the church and the marketplace. Tracks include Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Sports Management. The department reports an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and 91% post-graduate employment, and it displays an ACBSP mark. Students can also combine the bachelor's with a Master of Science in Organization Development in as few as five years, with evening or modular classes available at the graduate level. The department says the program builds a foundation in core business functions including management, accounting, finance, information technology, human resources, marketing and organizational behavior.
Calvary graduates 52% of its students and admits 72% of applicants. Tuition is $12,570 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program holds a Program Score of 70.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. With a small enrollment of 244 and an online option, it fits students who want faith-integrated business training, close faculty contact and a clear route into ministry-adjacent or entrepreneurial work.
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, KS · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- In-state
- $34,190
- Out-of-state
- $34,190
The University of Saint Mary's online B.S. in Business Administration-Management averages 22 months for students who transfer in about 60 credits, and includes an internship in management.
- Program Score 66.4
- 48% graduation rate
- $34,190 in-state tuition
- Management internship and CAPM exam prep
The University of Saint Mary offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a management focus, delivered online according to the program page. The degree requires 120 credits, including transferred coursework, and 65 of those come from the business program. Courses cover principles of management, entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, project management, human resource management, accounting, and strategic management and ethics, with a Management Internship and a Business Learning Lab experience built in. The school reports IACBE accreditation, and says the coursework prepares students to sit for the PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. Students who bring about 60 transfer credits finish in an average of 22 months.
Federally reported figures show a 48% graduation rate and an 87% admit rate at this private nonprofit school. Tuition is $34,190 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 66.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits transfer students and working adults who want a management-focused bachelor's with a practical internship, and who value a smaller campus with a defined path to completion.
Concorde Career College-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Tuition
- Priced per program
This fully online bachelor's degree-completion program can be finished in as few as 24 months and accepts 60 block credits from respiratory therapy associate degrees.
- Program Score 66.2
- 53% graduation rate
- 96% admit rate
- Completion in as few as 24 months, 100% online
Concorde Career College-Kansas City offers a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration as a 100% online degree-completion program. It is designed for people who already hold a healthcare-related associate degree, and the page states students can finish in as little as 24 months. The degree totals 120 semester credits, and 60 block credits are available to respiratory therapy associate degree transfer students. Coursework includes principles of epidemiology, health care ethics, health care organization and accounting, marketing and informatics, management and economics, and public health and cultural diversity.
The page says the program builds competency in research methods, problem-solving in health care settings, and collaborative decision-making, and it prepares graduates to move into broader leadership roles or continue to graduate study. It cites a Bureau of Labor Statistics projection of 24% growth in medical and health services manager openings for 2025 to 2035. Federal data show a 53% graduation rate and a 96% admit rate, so admission is not a major hurdle. The program has a Program Score of 66.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working clinicians with an associate degree who want a management credential without leaving their jobs.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Kansas City
The median school on this list graduates 52% of its students. The highest rates belong to William Jewell College (68%) and MidAmerica Nazarene University (54%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 William Jewell College68% graduation rate
- #3 MidAmerica Nazarene University54% graduation rate
- #7 Concorde Career College-Kansas City53% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Kansas City?
On this list, 1 of 7 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being William Jewell College at 38%.
- #1 William Jewell College38% admitted
- #5 Calvary University72% admitted
- #3 MidAmerica Nazarene University79% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Kansas City
Of the 7 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Park University, at #2.
- #2 Park UniversityParkville, MO
- #5 Calvary UniversityKansas City, MO
- #7 Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Kansas City
Enrollment on this list runs from 198 at Concorde Career College-Kansas City to 5,736 at Park University. Of the 7, 6 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Kansas City Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Park UniversityPark | $82,973 | $19,119 |
| #3 | MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityMidAmerica Nazarene | $64,377 | $30,947 |
| #4 | Avila UniversityAvila | $83,385 | $16,675 |
| #6 | University of Saint MarySaint Mary | $66,570 | $20,881 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $64,377 at MidAmerica Nazarene to $83,385 at Avila.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Park (#2), reports $82,973, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Avila, $16,675 a year, and most at MidAmerica Nazarene, $30,947.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Kansas City Cost
Tuition across the 7 ranked schools runs from $11,018 to $40,200 a year. Park University in Parkville anchors the low end at $11,018 a year, while Avila University sits at the top at $40,200. The cheapest private is Park University in Parkville at $11,018.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $44,072 in tuition at Park University against about $160,800 at Avila University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Kansas City from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Kansas City
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Kansas City do not all offer the same ones. Across the 91 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Kansas City are business administration (14 schools), accounting (8 schools), healthcare administration (8 schools), human resources (6 schools), and finance (4 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 8 of the schools analyzed in Kansas City run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Kansas City
The ranked business schools in Kansas City are private institutions.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Kansas City
The 7 ranked schools sit across 5 towns in the metro, among them Liberty, Parkville, and Olathe, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 7 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Kansas City: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Kansas City?
By Program Score, William Jewell College ranks first among the 7 ranked business schools in Kansas City, with an 84.6 score and a 68% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Kansas City?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Kansas City, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Kansas City?
Tuition among the ranked Kansas City schools runs from $11,018 to $40,200 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Kansas City living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Kansas City does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 91 accredited business programs across Kansas City and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 7 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Kansas City metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. The metro crosses into KS, so schools on both sides of the line are ranked together.
Is it worth studying business in Kansas City instead of online?
3 of the 7 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Kansas City this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.