Wichita State students gain hands-on career experience through applied learning opportunities.
In 2025, those experiences generated a record $39.2 million in student earnings.
Wichita State students earn record $39.2 million in paid internships, fueling Kansas’
talent pipeline
At Wichita State, applied learning is not confined to traditional classrooms. It flourishes
in diverse settings, including real-world industry involvement, internships and experiential
projects. This comprehensive approach empowers students to apply their academic knowledge
and gain fresh perspectives and valuable insights from their hands-on experiences.
Wichita State University students earned a record-breaking $39.2 million through applied
learning in the 2025 academic year — a powerful testament to WSU’s hands-on approach
to career readiness and its role in strengthening the Kansas workforce.
That marks an 11% increase from the previous year’s $35.3 million. And more students
than ever are receiving these opportunities, with 12,328 applied learning experiences
— a 31% jump over last year’s 9,397 — through paid, resume-building work with area
businesses, organizations, on-campus positions and Innovation Campus companies, all
while still pursuing their degrees.
The record gains come as Wichita State’s celebrates its fifth straight year of enrollment
growth, with more than 18,458 students enrolled at its main campus this fall. University leaders say the growth reflects the appeal of applied learning, which
has become central to WSU’s mission of providing affordable education with real-world
value.
“This work changes lives,” Wichita State President Rick Muma said. “Applied learning
equips our students with the skills and competence to make immediate and meaningful
contributions to their employers immediately after graduation.”
Applied learning also ensures Kansas businesses can tap into a talent pipeline that
meets their employment needs and strengthens our state’s economy.
Part of the recent growth stems from the $5 million in state support that created
WSU’s Applied Learning Fund, which expands paid opportunities in fields that have
traditionally gone unpaid, such as student teaching, nonprofit internships and the
arts. In the College of Applied Studies, for example, nearly 80 seniors in the teacher
education program shared more than $525,000 in scholarship support last year to help
offset cost-of-living expenses during their student-teaching semester. This year,
the program will expand to support 84 students with stipends of $1,440 for pre-student
teaching and $5,000 scholarships during their student teaching.
Bobby Gandu, associate vice provost for strategic enrollment initiatives, said the
promise of paid work and career connections is driving Wichita State’s growth.
“Students choose Wichita State because they know they’ll get more than a degree. They’ll
graduate with a resume, a paycheck and a foothold in the job market,” Gandu said.
“That value proposition is unmatched in our region, and it’s why more students than
ever are enrolling at WSU.”
When Wichita State created its strategic plan in 2013, the university guaranteed that
every degree-seeking student would complete an applied learning or research experience
before graduation. That pledge has reshaped the university’s profile, strengthened
its ties with industry and community partners, and positioned WSU as a national model
for career preparation and collaboration.
“This is why we do what we do. We want to open doors for students and help them build
futures full of possibility,” Muma said.
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling
more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences
and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more
than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered
and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering
R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
