New K-State institute equips Kansas educators to prepare students for financial success

K-State has launched the Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity to transform financial literacy across the state. | Download this photo.

By Office of External Engagement

Kansas State University has established the Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity, a comprehensive initiative designed to support educators across Kansas in teaching financial literacy skills that high school students will need as they transition into the workforce and adult financial responsibilities.

The institute is a strategic response to Kansas’s 2021 high school financial literacy requirement while embodying the university’s next-generation land-grant university promise to serve communities. The institute is part of K-State’s Office of External Engagement.

Addressing critical educator needs statewide

With the requirement for all Kansas high school students to complete a half-credit financial literacy course phasing in for the class of 2028, the institute serves as a vital resource for educators preparing students to make sound financial decisions as they enter careers, pursue higher education or begin managing independent household finances.

The Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity builds upon two nationally recognized K-State programs: Powercat Financial, a financial well-being student support resource, and the personal financial planning degree program, named the highest performing undergraduate financial planning program by WealthManagement.com.

“Current high school curriculum offerings range from required to optional to no offering at all,” said Martin Seay, interdisciplinary Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity director. “Many teachers lack confidence and training in financial literacy content, while small rural schools face significant implementation challenges. We aim to equip every educator with the tools and knowledge to teach students practical skills for managing money, understanding credit, planning for major purchases and making informed financial decisions as working adults.”

Proven approach and strategic implementation

The institute builds on successful pilot programs conducted in spring 2025 with five Kansas schools, demonstrating the effectiveness of K-State’s approach to preparing students for adult financial decision-making.

“The institute represents our commitment to ensuring Kansas students graduate with the financial knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in the workforce and manage their financial lives effectively,” said Susan Metzger, director of strategic interdisciplinary program development. “By targeting junior-level high school students beginning in fall 2026, we’re strategically positioned to help educators across Kansas prepare an entire generation for financial success as they transition from students to working adults.”

Key components of the program to support Kansas educators include:

High school educator support:

• Vetted curriculum aligned with state requirements and focused on financial scenarios.
• Professional development programs to build teacher confidence in financial literacy instruction.
• Graduate certificate programs to support educator content mastery and credentialing.
• Real-world case studies connecting financial concepts to career planning and workforce entry.

Student preparation for adult financial responsibilities:

• Curriculum emphasizing budgeting for first apartments, understanding employment benefits and managing student loans.
• Tools for teaching students about credit scores, banking relationships and significant financial decisions.
• Resources connecting financial literacy to career exploration and salary negotiations.
• Materials addressing the financial realities of different career paths and educational choices.

The institute leverages expertise across multiple areas, including the Office of Enrollment Management, K-State Extension and Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs initiatives, and partnerships with agencies like the Kansas Department of Insurance and the Kansas Bankers Association.

“Education is a key part of the mission of the Kansas Department of Insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “That’s why we partner with organizations like Kansas State University’s Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity to provide financial literacy education across the state.”

These partnerships allow K-State to amplify its impact by providing additional resources and expertise to reach Kansas educators and prepare students for financial independence.

“At the Kansas Bankers Association, we believe that financial literacy is a cornerstone of individual opportunity and statewide prosperity,” said Doug Wareham, Kansas Bankers Association president and CEO. “When Kansans have the knowledge and confidence to make sound financial decisions, they strengthen their families, their communities and our state’s economy. Promoting financial education isn’t just good policy — it’s essential to securing a more resilient and prosperous future for all Kansans.”

###

More K-State news