List of defunct colleges and universities in Kansas

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The following is a List of defunct universities and colleges in Kansas. This list includes accredited, degree-granting institutions and bona fide institutions of higher learning that operated before accreditation existed. All have hosted their primary campus within the state of Kansas, and all have since discontinued operations or their operations were taken over by another similar institution of higher learning.

Contents

List details

Time of operation

Length of operation

Eight of the schools operated for more than 50 years. Brown Mackie College was able to function for 125 years before closing. [1] The shortest length of operation was less than two years by Bethel Bible College (1900–1901), followed by three years for Concordia Normal School (1874–1876). At least four of the schools began operations before Kansas was admitted into the union (January 29, 1861).

Records for several of the schools have yet to be located and verified at this time of this writing to accurately determine how long the schools operated.

One school, Garfield University, actually opened and closed its doors twice.

Earliest and latest

The earliest verified to open was St. Mary's College in 1848, while the most recent to open was The Way College of Emporia in 1975. The earliest on record to close was Blue Mont Central College in 1863. The most recent four-year college closure was St. Mary of the Plains College in 1992. The most recent two-year programs to close are Wright Career College in 2016 [2] and Brown Mackie College in 2017. [1]

University vs college/school

Of the 64 institutes on the list, each chose a different method of naming itself:

Name considerations and locations

Three of the schools have some variation of "Saint Mary" in the name of the school: St. Mary's College, St. Mary of the Plains College, and Marymount. This can become even more confusing because there are two active colleges/universities in Kansas that have some variation of "Saint Mary" in their names: University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth) and St. Mary's College (St. Marys), the latter which is at the same location of one of the previous "Saint Mary" colleges.

Also in the same location and with similar names were The College of Emporia and The Way College of Emporia. The first school ceased operations and then sold the grounds to The Way International, which operated a school afterward. Critics accused the second school of attempting to use the history of the first to give a perception of value and credibility on the second. [3]

Other colleges with similar names include the several normal schools and business colleges. The College of the Sisters of Bethany is somewhat similar in name but otherwise unrelated to Bethany College in Lindsborg.

Aside from the two Emporia colleges, schools that shared locations were the former Kansas Technical Institute and the current Kansas State University – Salina; the site for Garfield University later became Friends University; and St. John's College was located just a few blocks from Southwestern College. Other schools may also have shared property/buildings during location and relocation efforts during closing of the schools.

One school relocated outside of the state: Midland College originated in Atchison and then relocated to Wahoo, Nebraska where it eventually merged with other schools.

Athletic programs

See List of college athletic programs in Kansas

Several of the schools maintained active athletic programs during their time of operation.

TeamSchoolCityConference (at time of discontinuation)
Brown Mackie-Salina Lions Brown Mackie College Salina Independent
College of Emporia Fighting Presbies College of Emporia Emporia Heart of America
Marymount Spartans Marymount Salina
St. John's Johnnies St. John's College Winfield Kansas
St. Mary of the Plains Cavaliers St. Mary of the Plains Dodge City Kansas

Included exceptions

There are a few inclusions in the list that are exceptions to the inclusion rule—most noticeably Utopia College. Utopia did not grant "degrees" but operated as a "college" for an extended period of time. Also, there are multiple business colleges that may not have been considered degree-granting institutions. In the interest of being as complete as possible, such schools are listed.

Defunct colleges and universities in Kansas

This list may be incomplete. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Bluemont Hall at Kansas State University, named to honor Blue Mont Central College Kansas State University Bluemont Hall.jpg
Bluemont Hall at Kansas State University, named to honor Blue Mont Central College
1909 Advertisement in Topeka State Journal for the Bissing Conservatory of Music Bissing Conservatory of Music (advertisement).png
1909 Advertisement in Topeka State Journal for the Bissing Conservatory of Music
"Presbie Pete" mascot of the College of Emporia Presbie-pete.gif
"Presbie Pete" mascot of the College of Emporia
Great Western Business and Normal College Concordia Normal School and Business College.jpg
Great Western Business and Normal College
Davis Hall at Friends University, original site of Garfield University Davis Full Front.JPG
Davis Hall at Friends University, original site of Garfield University
Great Western Business and Normal College class of 1905. Concordia Business College 1905.png
Great Western Business and Normal College class of 1905.
George Washington Carver applied to and was accepted by Highland University, but upon arrival they turned him away because of his race. George Washington Carver by Frances Benjamin Johnston.jpg
George Washington Carver applied to and was accepted by Highland University, but upon arrival they turned him away because of his race.
Lane University and territorial capital museum Lane University.JPG
Lane University and territorial capital museum
Miltonvale Wesleyan College, main building 1915 Miltonvale Wesleyan College 1915.png
Miltonvale Wesleyan College, main building 1915
College of the Sisters of Bethany postcard showing Wolfe Hall and Holmes Hall College of the Sisters of Bethany - Topeka.jpg
College of the Sisters of Bethany postcard showing Wolfe Hall and Holmes Hall
College/UniversityLocationOpenedClosedNotes
Atchison Business College Atchison 1885??Listing found [5] The school fielded a college football team for at least two years (1892 and 1902). [6]
Bethel Bible College Topeka 19001901Sometimes called "Parham School of Tongues" - founded by evangelist Charles Fox Parham. [7]
Bissing's Conservatory of Music Hays
Topeka
1901??Established by violinist Petrowitsch Bissing, shown operating as of 1918. [8] Began in Hays and relocated later in Topeka. [9]
Blue Mont Central College Manhattan 18581863 Kansas State University named Bluemont Hall to honor the College [10]
Bresee Theological College Hutchinson 19051940Closed in 1940 to merge with Bethany-Peniel College. [11]
Brown Mackie College Salina 18922017On June 11, 2016, 22 of 26 Brown Mackie campuses began closing. [1] The remaining campuses were sold in 2017.
Campbell College Holton 18801913Merged with Kansas City University which later also closed [12]
Central Normal College Great Bend 18881902Independent normal school [13]
College of Emporia Emporia 18821974Nationally known for its College football team's innovative play and success: see College of Emporia Fighting Presbies football
College of the Sisters of Bethany Topeka 18611928Chartered before Kansas became a state. Was originally named Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka but changed name around the time the school re-chartered in 1870. [14]
Concordia Normal School Concordia 18741876Lost state funding and did not survive. State normal schools were consolidated to what is now Emporia State University [15]
Conway Springs Normal and Business College Conway Springs ????Listing found [5]
Draughon's Practical Business College??????Listing found [5]
Emporia Business CollegeEmporia????Listing found [5]
Fort Scott Normal School Fort Scott 1878 [16] ??Sometimes called Kansas Normal School or Kansas Normal School of Fort Scott [17] One student that studied there was born in 1867. [18] Listed as closed in 1905 [19]
Garfield University Wichita 18881890Named for United States President James A. Garfield. The school struggled financially from the beginning. Closed once and then re-opened in 1892 officially chartered as "Central Memorial University" but still maintained the name "Garfield"—and closed again. [20] In 1898, passed property to what would become Friends University. [21]
G.A.R. Memorial National College Oberlin 1891??Established by five women of the Women's Relief Corps and endorsed by the Grand Army of the Republic posts of Kansas for the free education of soldiers' and sailors' children. It was said to have been the only such college of its kind in the United States. [22]
Great Western Business and Normal College Concordia1889??Founded by L. H. Hausam, sometimes called "Concordia Business College" or "Concordia Normal and Business College"—Private, different than the state operated "Concordia Normal School" [23]
Harper Normal and Business College Harper ????Listed closed as of 1905 [24]
Highland University Highland 1856??established for the Sac and Fox Nation under the Presbyterian church [25] Highland Community College claims that its roots date back to this university and thus claims to be "the first College in Kansas." [26]
Iola Business College Iola 1899??Listing found [5]
Kansas Christian College Lincoln 18821913Listing found [5]
Kansas City Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City 1901??Later became a part of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Kansas City.
Kansas City College of Physicians and SurgeonsKansas City??1905Merged with what is now the University of Kansas to become KU Med Center [24]
Kansas City University Kansas City1896 [27] 1933This school, located in Kansas City, Kansas should not be confused with UMKC, which was also sometimes historically called "Kansas City University" and is located across the state line in Kansas City, Missouri. [28]
Kansas Technical Institute Salina 19651991Merged with Kansas State University to form Kansas State University – Salina College of Technology and Aviation [29]
Lane University Lecompton 18651902Merged with Campbell College which later also closed [30]
Lawrence Business College Lawrence 1869??Listing found [5]
Leavenworth Business College Leavenworth 1887??Listing found [5]
Leavenworth Normal School Leavenworth18701876Lost state funding and did not survive, state normal schools were consolidated to what is now Emporia State University [31]
Manhattan Business College Manhattan 19081924 [5]
Marymount College (Kansas) Salina19221989Records sent to St. Mary of the Plains College which also closed (see below)
Midland College Atchison [32] 1887 [33] 1962In 1919, the College moved to Fremont, Nebraska to the site of the former Fremont Normal School and Business College. In 1962, Midland merged with Luther Junior College founded in Wahoo, Nebraska, in 1883. Midland College then became Midland Lutheran College. [34]
Miltonvale Wesleyan College Miltonvale 19091972Ceased operation in 1972 when the school merged with Bartlesville Wesleyan College—later to become a part of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. [35]
Modern Normal School Marysville ????Listed in a directory published in 1905 [36]
Moline College Moline ????Listing found [5]
Mount St. Scholastica Atchison 19231971Merged with St. Benedict's College to form Benedictine College
National Business College Coffeyville ????Listing found [5]
National Business College Hiawatha ????Listing found [5]
National Business CollegeKansas City????Listing found [5]
Nemaha Commercial College Seneca 1900??Listing found [5]
Nickerson Normal School Nickerson 1898??Independent normal school [13]
Oswego College for Young Women Oswego 1883??Sometimes referred to as Oswego College or Oswego College for Young Ladies [37]
Ottawa Business College Ottawa ????Listing found [5]
Ottumwa College Ottumwa 18641872Organized by the Methodist Episcopal Church, later under control of the Christian Church. Only building burned to the ground on July 24, 1872.
Parsons Business College Parsons 1892??Listing found [5]
Pittsburg Business College Pittsburg 1894??Listing found [5] The school had a football team in 1908, losing one game to local college team Pittsburg State University. [38]
Salina Normal University Salina18841904Destroyed by fire in 1904 and was not rebuilt [39]
Salt City Business College Hutchinson 1897??Listing found [5] The school had a football team in 1907 and 1908. [40]
Skelton's School of Telegraphy and Railway BusinessSalina18871909Early adopter of teaching both telegraph and typewriter skills to students. [41] Became a Union Pacific Railroad school in 1909 and turned over to Kansas Wesleyan Business College.
Soule College Dodge City 1894??Advertised board for $2 per week and tuition for $24 per year. [19]
St. Benedict's CollegeAtchison1859 [42] 1971Merged with Mount St. Scholastica to form Benedictine College
St. John's College Winfield 18931986Maintains an active alumni association [43]
St. Mary of the Plains College Dodge City 19131992Maintains an active alumni association [44]
St. Mary's College St. Marys 18481968A second College presently exists at the same location also named St. Mary's College"
The Way College of EmporiaEmporia19751989Same location as College of Emporia. Attempted a legal battle to gain the endowment of the previous college and lost. [3] Enrollment dwindled around 90 students. [45]
Topeka Business College Topeka ????Listing found [5]
Utopia College Eureka 19461970sGranted only "certificates"
Western Musical ConservatoryEmporia1871??Listing found [5]
Western Theological SeminaryAtchison1893??Evangelical Lutheran college, listed as operational as of 1902. [46]
Western University Quindaro 18641943Earliest historically black college or university west of the Mississippi River
Wichita Business CollegeWichita1901??Listing found [5] The school had a football team in 1901 and 1902. [47]
Wichita Commercial CollegeWichita1893??Listing found [5]
Windsor Commercial CollegeFort Scott1897??Listing found [5]
Winfield Business and Academic CollegeWinfield1894??Listing found [5]
Wright Career College Overland Park 19212016Founded in 1921 as Dickinson's Business School. [48] One thousand students and 200 staff members at five campuses locations were affected when the school abruptly closed its doors. All students were notified by email on a Thursday evening that the school would not be open the next day. [49]

See also

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