Wichita, KS (population: 374,803) has five childhood education schools within a 100-mile radius of its city center. Southwestern College, the highest ranked school in this group with a childhood education program, has a total student population of 1,810. It is the 553rd highest ranked school in the USA and the highest in the state of Kansas.
Childhood Education students from Wichita schools who go on to become childhood educators, preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, special education teachers, etc. have a good chance at finding employment. For example, there are 181,810 people working as kindergarten teachers alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $50,380. Also, Preschool teachers make on average $27,450 per year and there are about 389,660 of them employed in the US today. In fact, in the Wichita area alone, there are 290 employed preschool teachers earning an average salary of $31,570. Kindergarten teachers in this area earn $48,080/yr and there are 430 employed.
Wichita lies in Sedgwick county, which is one of the 67 counties in Kansas. Overall, the Wichita area has 295,670 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 2.3% unemployment rate, $18.81/hr average worker wage, and a $39,110 average annual salary. Thus, about 1.441 out of every 1000 jobs in Wichita are held by kindergarten teachers, and 0.986/1000 are held by preschool teachers.
Of the 5 childhood education schools with a 100-mile radius of Wichita, none have a student population over 10k. After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, Hesston College comes out as the most expensive ($18,077/yr) for childhood education students, with Northwestern Oklahoma State University as the lowest, reported at only $6,679/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Wichita |
| North Newton | KS | - | 1 | 30.3056 | 44 | 26.4 miles |
| El Dorado | KS | - | 2 | 14.14 | 133 | 27.6 miles |
| Winfield | KS | - | 1 | 53.8865 | 62 | 36.4 miles |
| Arkansas City | KS | - | 1 | 16.4747 | 36 | 46.5 miles |
| Lindsborg | KS | - | 1 | 18.8974 | 70 | 63.8 miles |
| Ponca City | OK | - | 2 | 30.535 | 26 | 69.4 miles |
| Pratt | KS | - | 1 | 19.626 | 18 | 76.6 miles |
| Salina | KS | 46,677 | 4 | 21.0387 | 91 | 79.6 miles |
| Great Bend | KS | - | 1 | 20.0068 | 110 | 90.6 miles |
| Enid | OK | 48,152 | 2 | 30.1217 | 45 | 93.2 miles |