Wichita University, located at Wichita, was established in 1886 by the Reformed church, under the general care of the Synod of the Interior of that denomination. The school, however, was not in any sense sectarian. The college grounds were selected east of the city on rising ground known as College Hill. A three-story building was erected at a cost of $25,000 and the site was valued at $30,000. This, with the permanent endowment, gave the school property valued at $70,000.

In the collegiate department five courses were offered: classical, English, scientific, Latin scientific and Greek scientific. A three-year preparatory department fitted students for entrance to the college and a model department was conducted in connection with the normal training course. In addition there were special music and business courses, The university was maintained by the tuition of students and an endowment fund. In 1892 it had a faculty of fifteen, but went out of existence the next year.