Kansas Wesleyan University

Kansas Wesleyan University
Motto in English	Victory not without Toil
Type	Private university
Established	September 15, 1886; 139 years ago (1886-09-15)
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations	IAMSCU; NAICU; CIC
President	Matthew R. Thompson
Provost	Damon Kraft
Academic staff	84
Students	952
Location	Salina, Kansas, U.S.; 38°48′49″N 97°36′34″W / 38.81361°N 97.60944°W / 38.81361; -97.60944
Campus	Urban
Colors	Purple and gold;
Nickname	Coyotes
Sporting affiliations	NAIA – KCAC
Website	kwu.edu

Christian university in Salina, Kansas, US

Kansas Wesleyan University is a private Christian university in Salina, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1886, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It has over 900 students^[4] and a 28-acre (11 ha) campus.

Academics

The university's academic program provides a liberal arts foundation comprising more than 27 major programs granting MBA, BA, BS and BSN degrees. Additionally, the university offers online degrees in emergency management, criminal justice and the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The average class size is 13 students, and graduates have a 98% placement rate.^[5]

Student life

Kansas Wesleyan has more than 20 clubs and organizations including DECA, KWU Student Media and numerous music and athletics opportunities. The Kansas Wesleyan DECA team has earned multiple world championship honors, totaling 15 since 2021.^[6]

Campus

Main Building
Hauptli Student Center

Athletics

The Kansas Wesleyan athletic teams are called the Coyotes. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) since the 1902–03 academic year.^[7]

Kansas Wesleyan competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. Co-ed sports include competitive cheer and competitive dance.

KWU athletics has won the KCAC Commissioner’s Cup five times in the award’s history, including a three-year run, winning the cup in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25.^[8]

Notable alumni

Tunku Shazuddin Ariff — Deputy Crown Prince of Kedah^[9]
Rebecca S. Chopp — Chancellor of The University of Denver
Stefanie Milam — Project Scientist for Policy and Science Community, NASA^[10]
Thomas Craven — anti-modernist art critic and art historian^[11]
Bill Graves — politician, 43rd governor of Kansas, and president of the American Trucking Association
Wes Jackson — biologist and founder of The Land Institute
Dennis Rader — "BTK" serial killer, attended 1965-66^[12]
Bill Wheatley — basketball player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics

References

^ "Home". Kansas Wesleyan University. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
^ Kansas Wesleyan University Style & Branding Guide (PDF). July 1, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
^ NAICU – Member Directory Archived 2015-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
^ Rankin, Charles. "Kansas Wesleyan projects fall enrollment to exceed 950 students". Salina Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
^ "Home - Kansas Wesleyan University". Kansas Wesleyan University. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
^ "Quartet of Coyotes Earn DECA World Championships". Kansas Wesleyan University. 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
^ "Member Institutions (Kansas Wesleyan University)". Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
^ "KCAC Commissioner's Cup Presented by McCownGordon Construction: 2024-25 Final Standings". kcacsports.com. 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
^ "Dato' Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Joins Naza Italia As Chairman". Naza Group of Companies. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
^ "Stefanie Milam - Project Scientist for Policy and Science Community, NASA - NASA Science". Retrieved 2025-09-09.
^ "Thomas Craven". arthistorians.info. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
^ "The Truth About Dennis Rader's Life Before He Became The BTK Killer". grunge.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.

External links

Official website
Athletics website

[Home_|_Kansas_Wesleyan_University-1] "Home". Kansas Wesleyan University. Retrieved September 9, 2025.

[2] Kansas Wesleyan University Style & Branding Guide (PDF). July 1, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

[3] NAICU – Member Directory Archived 2015-11-09 at the Wayback Machine

[4] Rankin, Charles. "Kansas Wesleyan projects fall enrollment to exceed 950 students". Salina Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-09.

[5] "Home - Kansas Wesleyan University". Kansas Wesleyan University. Retrieved 2025-09-09.

[6] "Quartet of Coyotes Earn DECA World Championships". Kansas Wesleyan University. 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-09-09.

[7] "Member Institutions (Kansas Wesleyan University)". Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved May 27, 2013.

[8] "KCAC Commissioner's Cup Presented by McCownGordon Construction: 2024-25 Final Standings". kcacsports.com. 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-09-09.

[9] "Dato' Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Joins Naza Italia As Chairman". Naza Group of Companies. Retrieved 27 January 2025.

[10] "Stefanie Milam - Project Scientist for Policy and Science Community, NASA - NASA Science". Retrieved 2025-09-09.

[Thomas_Craven_bio-11] "Thomas Craven". arthistorians.info. Retrieved May 27, 2013.

[The_Truth_About_Dennis_Rader's_Life_Before_He_Became_The_BTK_Killer-12] "The Truth About Dennis Rader's Life Before He Became The BTK Killer". grunge.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.