Best School Psychology Programs in Kansas Rankings for 2026
NASP-approved EdS and specialist programs in Kansas, with the Kansas State Department of Education license pathway, the licensed psychologist route for private practice, the Praxis 5403 exam, internship requirements, and school psychologist salary data for 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Kansas school psychologists earn a median of $73,020, about 24% below the $95,990 national median (BLS, May 2025). Go in with clear eyes: the trade-off is Kansas's low cost of living, not a big paycheck. The bottom 10% earn about $60,620 and the top 10% clear $95,810, with the state employing roughly 630 school psychologists.
- You practice in Kansas public schools with a school specialist license, school psychologist endorsement, from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). To see clients privately outside of schools, you need a doctoral-level licensed psychologist credential from the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Two different agencies, two very different paths.
- Kansas has two NASP-approved school psychology programs: the University of Kansas EdS in Lawrence and the Wichita State University EdS. Both are public and inexpensive, and both are also accredited through CAEP and approved by KSDE.
- Several other Kansas programs, including Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, and Emporia State, are KSDE-approved and CAEP-accredited but not on the current NASP approval list. They still lead to the Kansas license, and you can still earn the NCSP through the non-approved-program route, just with a couple of extra steps.
- Kansas has a documented shortage of school psychologists. NASP recommends one per 500 students against a national ratio near 1,071 to 1, and rural districts and special education cooperatives compete hardest to fill seats. You can track the gap on the NASP shortages dashboard. Demand and job security stay high.
Let's be honest about Kansas pay up front, because the number shapes the decision. The BLS May 2025 data puts the median for school psychologists in Kansas at $73,020, roughly 24% under the $95,990 national figure. That is real, and you should factor it in. The counterweight is cost of living. Housing in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, and the smaller districts runs well below the national average, and the salary follows the same teacher step-and-column schedule, so your pay climbs with experience and graduate units on a predictable timeline. The range runs from about $60,620 at the 10th percentile to $95,810 at the 90th, and Lawrence leads the state at an $84,740 median, partly on the strength of the university town and the districts around it.
Here is the structure that trips people up. Kansas splits school psychology across two credentials. To work in public K-12 schools, where almost all school psychologists are employed, you need a school specialist license with a school psychologist endorsement from the Kansas State Department of Education. You do not need a prior teaching license to get it. If you want to open a private practice and see families outside the school setting, that is a different and much longer road: you become a licensed psychologist through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, which requires a doctorate. Most Kansas school psychologists only ever hold the KSDE credential.
Kansas is a small-program state for NASP approval. Only two programs hold current NASP approval: the University of Kansas EdS in Lawrence and the Wichita State University EdS. Both are public, both lead straight to the KSDE license, and KU sits in Lawrence, the highest-paying metro in the state. A handful of other Kansas universities, including Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, and Emporia State, run KSDE-approved, CAEP-accredited specialist programs that are not currently on the NASP approval list. Those still qualify you for the Kansas license, and you can still earn the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential through the alternate route for graduates of non-approved programs, so do not write them off, especially Fort Hays State's online option if you live in western Kansas. If none of the in-state programs fits your location or timing, a NASP-approved program in a neighboring state like Missouri or Oklahoma is worth weighing, since the NCSP makes it straightforward to bring your training back to Kansas. Below you will find the in-state programs in detail, exactly what the KSDE license requires, real salary numbers by metro, and how to choose.
Best School Psychology Programs in Kansas Rankings (NASP-Approved EdS & Specialist)
All 6 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas: EdS in School Psychology | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Wichita State University: EdS in School Psychology | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 3 | University of Kansas: PhD in School Psychology | PhD: doctoral students typically funded through assistantships (contact the program) | On-campus | |
| 4 | Pittsburg State University: EdS in School Psychology | Public university (among the more affordable in Kansas; see program) | On-campus | |
| 5 | Fort Hays State University: MS + EdS in School Psychology | Public university (low tuition; FHSU is known for affordability; see program) | Virtual | |
| 6 | Emporia State University: MS + EdS in School Psychology | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus |
University of Kansas: EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Resident tuition + nonresident per-credit surcharge
Length
3 years (64 credit hours, including a 9-month paid internship)
Field Hours
Practicum sequence + 1,200-hour internship (min. 600 in a school), nine-month paid placement
Concentrations
- Holds full NASP approval at the specialist level, the strongest standing of any Kansas program, with a 2026 update on the NASP list
- KU also runs an APA-accredited PhD in School Psychology, so faculty are research-active and you can continue to the doctorate
- Two years of full-time coursework and practicum followed by a nine-month PAID internship, which offsets tuition
- Sits in Lawrence, the highest-paying metro in Kansas for school psychologists at an $84,740 median
Wichita State University: EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Resident tuition + nonresident per-credit surcharge
Length
2 to 3 years full-time (60 credit hours beyond the bachelor's)
Field Hours
Practicum + a 4-credit postspecialist internship: a full-time, one-year placement in a public school
Concentrations
- NASP-approved and CAEP-accredited, the only such program in the Wichita metro, the largest job market in the state
- Evening and some online/hybrid classes are built so you can keep working while you train
- No GRE required if you meet the 3.0 undergraduate GPA benchmark for academic competence
- A 60-hour EdS for students entering after a bachelor's, with a shorter 39-hour path for those who already hold a master's
University of Kansas: PhD in School Psychology
In-State
PhD: doctoral students typically funded through assistantships (contact the program)
Out-of-State
PhD: doctoral students typically funded through assistantships (contact the program)
Length
5 years (4 years of full-time study + a 1-year predoctoral internship)
Field Hours
Multi-year practica + a full-time predoctoral internship in professional psychology
Concentrations
- The only APA-accredited school psychology doctoral program in Kansas, trained on a scientist-practitioner model
- Prepares you for field-based practice, university faculty roles, or research, not just school-based work
- The doctorate is the cleanest path toward the licensed psychologist credential for private practice in Kansas
- Doctoral students are typically supported through assistantships, so confirm the current funding package with the department
Pittsburg State University: EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (among the more affordable in Kansas; see program)
Out-of-State
Resident tuition + nonresident per-credit surcharge
Length
3 years (MS in year 1, EdS in year 2, internship in year 3)
Field Hours
Supervised practica + a third-year school psychologist internship
Concentrations
- KSDE-approved and CAEP-accredited, so it leads to the Kansas school psychologist license, but it is not on the current NASP approval list
- Three-year build: a Master of Science first, then the EdS, then a full year as a school psychologist intern in schools
- Serves southeast Kansas, where special education cooperatives and rural districts work hard to recruit
- Because the program is not NASP-approved, plan to earn the NCSP through the route for graduates of non-approved programs if you want national portability
Fort Hays State University: MS + EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (low tuition; FHSU is known for affordability; see program)
Out-of-State
Resident tuition + nonresident per-credit surcharge
Length
2 years full-time (30-hour MS + 36-hour EdS) before the internship
Field Hours
1,200-hour supervised internship after provisional KSDE licensure
Concentrations
- Offers a fully virtual track alongside accelerated and on-campus options, a rare online path to the Kansas license
- A strong fit for western and rural Kansas, where commuting to Lawrence or Wichita is not realistic
- Both degrees can be finished in two years of full-time study, MS first, then EdS, then the 1,200-hour internship
- KSDE-approved and CAEP-accredited but not on the current NASP list, so use the non-approved-program route for the NCSP
Emporia State University: MS + EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Resident tuition + nonresident per-credit surcharge
Length
3 years (30-hour MS + 30-hour EdS, plus the internship)
Field Hours
Practicum field experience + a supervised school psychologist internship
Concentrations
- Two-stage structure: you complete the 30-hour MS in school psychology first, then the 30-hour terminal EdS
- CAEP-accredited and KSDE-approved, so it leads to the Kansas license, but it is not on the current NASP approval list
- The MS emphasizes theory and foundations; the EdS focuses on skill application and the practicum field experience
- Plan for the NCSP through the non-approved-program pathway if you want to credential outside Kansas later
Kansas School Psychologist License Requirements (KSDE and Private Practice)
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE): Teacher Licensure
(785) 296-3201
Kansas keeps school-based credentialing inside the State Department of Education, and the credential you want is the school specialist license with a school psychologist endorsement. Unlike some Kansas specialist licenses, this one does not require a prior teaching credential, so you can come straight from an undergraduate degree into a graduate program and license off that. Here is the step-by-step. First, finish a graduate-level specialist program in school psychology from a regionally accredited institution that meets KSDE's preparation standards and the NASP performance criteria. Both the University of Kansas and Wichita State are built to do exactly that, as are the KSDE-approved programs at Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, and Emporia State.
Second, clear the academic and exam bars. KSDE requires a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in your graduate specialist coursework, which is higher than the 3.0 floor most programs use for admission, so keep your grades up through the EdS. You also have to pass the Praxis School Psychologist exam (#5403). Kansas sets its own qualifying score on the 5403 at 147. If you want the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential at the same time, you need a 155, the national cut score, so most students aim for 155 and clear both in one sitting.
Third, handle the degree-then-internship sequence that catches people off guard in Kansas. Kansas programs award the specialist degree before the internship year. With the EdS in hand you qualify for the initial, time-limited license, and only after you complete the supervised one-year, 1,200-hour internship do you move up to the full professional license. So your first license is the door into the internship, not the finish line. Plan for that timing so you are licensed and placed by the start of your internship year. If you ever want to practice privately outside of schools, that is a separate and longer path: you become a licensed psychologist through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, which requires a doctorate, two years (3,600 hours) of supervised experience, and the EPPP. Most Kansas school psychologists never take that step.
School Specialist License, School Psychologist Endorsement (KSDE)
Practice as a school psychologist in Kansas public PK-12 schools: assessment, counseling, consultation, crisis response, and intervention design
Hours
1,200
Duration
typically a 3-year program plus the internship year
Exam: Praxis School Psychologist (#5403), Kansas qualifying score 147 (155 to also earn the NCSP); initial license precedes the internship, professional license follows it
Licensed Psychologist (private practice, Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board)
Independent practice of psychology outside the school system: assessment, therapy, and consultation
Hours
3,600
Duration
Associate
Exam: EPPP (scaled score 500+); two years (3,600 hours) of supervised experience, with one year postdoctoral; doctoral degree required
Kansas does not grant automatic reciprocity, but the NCSP national certification is the cleanest way in if you trained out of state. A school psychologist who holds a current NCSP can usually submit it along with transcripts rather than re-proving each piece of coursework against Kansas standards. If you do not hold the NCSP, KSDE reviews your out-of-state preparation against its own requirements, so expect to document your graduate program and your 1,200-hour internship. Either way, start the paperwork well before your first Kansas school year so you are licensed by your start date. You can confirm any Kansas educator's credential on the KSDE Educator License Lookup.
School Psychologist Salary in Kansas
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
This is the honest part. Kansas pays school psychologists below the national median. The BLS May 2025 data puts the Kansas median at $73,020, against a national median of $95,990, which works out to about 24% below the national figure. The full range runs from roughly $60,620 at the 10th percentile to $95,810 at the 90th, so where you land depends a lot on your district, your metro, and how many years and graduate units you stack up on the salary schedule. Pay follows the same certificated step-and-column scale Kansas districts use for teachers, which means it is predictable and contract-protected, but it is also capped by what Kansas districts can fund.
The metros tell the real story, and it is not the one you might expect. Lawrence leads the state at an $84,740 median, well above the statewide figure, helped by the university town and the districts around it. The bi-state Kansas City, MO-KS metro comes in around $78,090, so school psychologists on the Kansas side of the line do well by state standards. After that the numbers drop: Wichita, the largest job market in Kansas, sits at a $66,810 median, Topeka at $65,580, and the Kansas nonmetropolitan area around $67,650. The case for staying in Kansas is cost of living, not salary. Housing and day-to-day costs run below the national average, so a $73,000 school psychologist salary stretches further here than the same number would in California or the Northeast. If the paycheck is your top priority, this is a state to leave; if affordability and steady, contract-backed public employment matter more, the math is friendlier than the median makes it look.
School Psychologists (BLS 19-3034)
National median: $95,990
Top metro: $84,740 (Lawrence, KS)
School Psychologists, Wichita, KS metro (BLS 19-3034)
National median: $95,990
Top metro: $66,810 (Wichita, KS)
Kansas School Psychology Job Market and Shortage
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Kansas does not have enough school psychologists, and that is the bright spot in the job picture. The state employs only about 630 of them, and NASP recommends one school psychologist for every 500 students against a national ratio closer to 1,071 to 1. You can watch the gap on the NASP state shortages dashboard. The shortage is sharpest in rural and western Kansas, which is exactly why a virtual option like Fort Hays State's matters: districts out there cannot easily recruit graduates who trained in Lawrence or Wichita and want to stay near campus.
The demand is driven by work that schools are legally required to do. Every special education eligibility decision rests on a psycho-educational evaluation, and Kansas's push to expand school-based mental health has only added to the caseload. School psychologists here work for local public school districts, the special education cooperatives and interlocals that many Kansas districts pool into for staffing, regional service centers, and a growing number of charter and private schools. The cooperatives are worth understanding: in much of rural Kansas, a single school psychologist employed by a cooperative may cover several small districts, which means a lot of driving but also steady, hard-to-eliminate demand. Wichita and the Kansas City, KS area carry the largest concentrations of jobs, but the openings that go unfilled the longest, and sometimes carry hiring incentives, are in the smaller districts and cooperatives away from the metros.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). School psychologists employed full-time by a Kansas public school district or special education cooperative qualify for federal PSLF, which forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments. Eligibility is based on your employer, not your job title.
Low public-university tuition. Every Kansas school psychology program is public, and Fort Hays State in particular is known for affordability, so total borrowing stays low to begin with. That is the cheapest form of loan relief there is.
KU's paid internship. The University of Kansas places EdS students in a nine-month paid internship in the final year, so part of your training comes with a paycheck rather than more debt.
Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship and state loan programs (verify eligibility). Kansas has run teacher-focused scholarship and service-commitment programs tied to hard-to-fill licensure areas. These are usually written around classroom teachers, so confirm directly with the program whether a school psychologist endorsement counts before you rely on it.
How to Choose the Best School Psychology Program in Kansas
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
With two NASP-approved programs and a handful of KSDE-approved ones, the choice in Kansas is less about ranking and more about location, schedule, delivery format, and whether you need the NASP stamp for portability. Here is how the programs sort out.
If you want the strongest standing and a research-active department: the University of Kansas holds full NASP approval and also runs the state's only APA-accredited PhD, so faculty are active researchers and you can continue to the doctorate later.
If you want a paid internship year: KU places EdS students in a nine-month paid internship, which offsets the cost of the final training year better than the other options.
If you want the biggest job market and an evening schedule: Wichita State is NASP-approved, sits in the largest metro in the state, and runs late-afternoon, evening, and some online classes so you can keep working while you train.
If you live in western or rural Kansas: Fort Hays State offers a fully virtual track to the Kansas license, which is the realistic path if commuting to Lawrence or Wichita is not an option, just plan for the NCSP through the non-approved-program route.
If you want the most affordable path: all Kansas programs are public and inexpensive, and Fort Hays State is known statewide for affordability, which keeps total borrowing low.
If you want a stop-and-build structure: Pittsburg State and Emporia State both have you complete a Master of Science first and then the terminal EdS, which lets you bank a degree along the way.
If national portability matters to you: choose KU or Wichita State, the two NASP-approved programs, so your NCSP comes through the streamlined route and your training transfers cleanly to other states.
Related Pages
School Psychologist Career Guide
What school psychologists actually do day to day
School Psychologist Salary
Salary data by state, experience, and setting
School Psychology Programs by State
Browse school psychology programs in every state
School Psychology Programs in Missouri
NASP-approved programs and licensure in Missouri
School Psychology Programs in Oklahoma
NASP-approved programs and licensure in Oklahoma
Sources
- NASP: Program Approval & Accreditation List (Kansas)
- NASP: Kansas School Psychology Credentialing Requirements
- NASP: Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Eligibility
- Kansas State Department of Education: Teacher Licensure
- Kansas State Department of Education: Educator License Lookup
- Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board: Psychologists
- ETS: Praxis School Psychologist (5403)
- NASP: State Shortages Data Dashboard
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS School Psychologists (19-3034), May 2025
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS Kansas, May 2025