Higher Education

Overland Park is home to the state’s largest institution of higher education: Johnson County Community College, where more than 40,000 students are enrolled in credit and continuing education each semester. The University of Kansas and numerous other colleges and universities have satellite campuses in Overland Park where working professionals can acquire an additional academic degree, keep up with current business trends or embark on a new career path. Many of the institutions offer evening and weekend classes affording Overland Park residents the opportunity for life-long learning. You don’t even have to enroll as a full-time student to take advantage of the knowledgeable faculty, extensive libraries and research tools at Overland Park’s higher learning institutions.

The Johnson County Education Research Triangle (JCERT) was created in 2008 by a 1/8-cent, voter-approved sales tax increase that supports focus on research, science and technology for the county. Funding from this tax goes to support buildings, programs and research at the KU Edwards Campus Business, Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Building in Overland Park, Kansas State University International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute in Olathe and the KU Clinical Research Center in Fairway . The Triangle will have economic impact of more than $1.4 billion over the next two decades and will attract millions of dollars in private and public donations and research grants.

Johnson County Community College* (JCCC) is one of the country’s largest, single-site community colleges. Founded in 1969, JCCC serves more than 40,000 students.

JCCC is nationally recognized for its academic programming and workforce development initiatives. The college offers more than 101 credit programs and 3000 certification, recertification, re-licensure workshops, other continuing education courses. JCCC works directly with local companies, community members and economic development organizations to tailor training courses based on specific needs. While academia is JCCC’s main focus, the college also offers 7 varsity sports programs (men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball), is home to the renowned Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and offers a premier Performing Arts Series. In 2019, JCCC opened the Fine Arts and Design Studio (FADS) building, strengthening the resources it can provide to students.

JCCC Education Centers:

• Workforce Development 
• Culinary Academy
• National Academy of Railroad Sciences Program

Opened in 1993, The University of Kansas Edwards Campus* caters to working professionals and local area students who want to continue their education. With approximately 1,500 students and 250 faculty members, KU Edwards offers undergraduate and graduate programs, focusing on late afternoon and evening classes to cater to the working professional.

In 2012, KU Edwards Campus opened its Business, Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) building, an initiative of the Johnson County Education Research Triangle, where it offers programs focused on business, engineering, science and technology.

Other colleges and universities in Overland Park and nearby:

• Baker University*
• Cleveland University Kansas City*
• Emporia State University Metro Learning Center
• Friends University Kansas City Education Center
• Kansas State University Olathe*
• National American University
• Ottawa University Kansas City*
• Pittsburg State University Kansas City
• Rasmussen College
• Saint Paul School of Theology*
• University of St. Mary – Kansas City

*Overland Park Chamber Member

Healthcare

Overland Park residents have access to some of the best and most up-to-date medical facilities. Major medical facilities, specialty hospitals, numerous urgent care and emergency medical facilities, and dozens of assisted living, skilled nursing and home health companies provide medical care from birth to the senior years. Community leaders and a philanthropic business community support a large network of nonprofit organizations working to ensure that the increasingly diverse human service needs are being addressed.

Area hospitals are accredited in a wide range of specialties and have medical staff foremost in their fields. The University of Kansas Cancer Center, which has treatment centers in Overland Park, is the only National Cancer Institute-designed cancer center in the region.

#178 – Least-Stressed Cities in America – WalletHub, 2020

#4 – Healthiest Cities in the U.S. for Families – Ladders, 2019

#25 – Healthiest Cities in the U.S. – WalletHub, 2017

AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
9100 West 74th Street, Shawnee Mission, KS 66204

You’ll find whole-person care, dedicated teams and staff, and a wide variety of medical and community wellness services at AdventHealth locations throughout the Kansas City region. AdventHealth Shawnee Mission delivers more babies each year than any other local hospital and is the area’s only certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network.

Beds: 395

AdventHealth South Overland Park 
7820 W 165th St, Overland Park, KS 66223 

AdventHealth South Overland Park brings expert, whole person health care to residents of southern Johnson County. Located at 159th and U.S. 69 Highway, the hospital has a full range of services to meet your needs. Whether you are welcoming a new baby, are in need of primary care, or have an unexpected ER visit, AdventHealth South Overland Park offers it all and more.

Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas
5808 West 110th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211

The only free-standing pediatric hospital in Kansas, Children’s Mercy Hospital brings nationally-recognized pediatric expertise closer to families in the southern portion of the metro. It offers comprehensive medical care with 52 inpatient beds, emergency room staffed 24/7, surgicenter, sleep lab, and more than 22 specialty clinics. It also is home to one of only a dozen pediatric-focused Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers in the country. It was recognized as a Healthy Kansas Hospitals Center of Excellence through the Kansas Hospital Association.

Beds: 52

Menorah Medical Center
5721 West 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66209

Menorah Medical Center is the only hospital in Kansas to earn Healthgrades’ 250 Best Hospitals in the U.S. for three consecutive years. It is a Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Robotic Surgery. The Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute is nationally accredited by the Commission on Cancer and features leading edge technologies. With one of the area’s top neuroscience team, Menorah is expanding with a three-floor tower to further advance its neuroscience and orthopedic care. The hospital also features one of the region’s premiere complex orthopedic hip and knee replacement programs and a boutique-like setting in the Women’s Center at Menorah.

Beds: 198

MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital
5701 West 110th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211

MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services and treatments for a variety of conditions. It is accredited by the Joint Commission to provide specialized medical and therapeutic services. Combined with state-of-the-art technology, experience and knowledge, MidAmerica’s services provide patients with the care they need to reach maximum levels of independence and function.

Beds: 98

Overland Park Regional Medical Center
10500 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS 66215

Overland Park Regional Medical Center (OPRMC) is Johnson County’s only Trauma Center and offers more than 550 physicians covering every medical specialty. OPRMC is home to one of the busiest women’s centers, and the area’s most advanced Level IIIb Neonatal ICU (NICU). OPRMC is a proud health care partner of the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, The Kansas City Stars Youth Ice Hockey Club, Kansas City Christian School and Heartland Soccer Association, offering exclusive Athletic Training and Concussion Management services to keep kids safe on and off the field.

Beds: 343

Saint Luke’s South Hospital
12300 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66213

This state-of-the-art facility features a 24-hour emergency room certified as a Primary Stroke Center, an award-winning Hip & Knee Center, an intensive care unit, NAPBC accredited Goppert Breast Center featuring 3-D mammography, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, Birth & Women’s Center with Level IIIa NICU, advanced cardiac care, surgical weight loss center, the Jacobson & McElliott Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, and more than 600 physicians.

Beds: 125

Johnson County Rehabilitation Hospital
11325 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66210

 The new hospital specializes in comprehensive rehabilitation treatment for patients with a range of debilitating injuries and diseases. Some of the areas of treatment offered by hospital staff include stroke rehabilitation, orthopedic injuries, and memory and speech deficits. The 47,750 building includes three stories and 40 hospital beds.

Beds: 40

Rehabilitation Hospital of Overland Park
5100 Indian Creek Parkway, Overland Park, KS 66207

The Rehabilitation Hospital of Overland Park is part of the Post Acute Medical network. The free-standing hospital offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services for patients recovering from acute injuries and illnesses. With access to the latest rehabilitation technology, the hospital can provide treatment for a variety of conditions, including amputation, brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and much more. The staff includes registered nurses, disease specialists, physical and occupational therapists and psychologists, among others.

Beds: 45

The University of Kansas Hospital

The University of Kansas Hospital is the region's premier academic medical center, providing a full range of care and leading-edge research. All twelve of its medical and surgical specialty areas are ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospital” lists. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated program. The hospital also houses the region's only accredited burn center, the area's only nationally verified Level I Trauma Center and the area’s first and only Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center recognized by The Joint Commission. The 42,000-square-foot Indian Creek campus in Overland Park offers a full range of services including general surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, radiology, urology and pain management services. Also at the Indian Creek Campus are the Sports Medicine & Performance Center, Marc A. Asher Comprehensive Spine Center and The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Sarcoma Center.

Housing

A steady increase in population and affluence in Overland Park over the past 50 years has resulted in some of the most desirable housing in the Kansas City metro area. The city has a relatively new housing stock. The median year a housing unit was built in Overland Park was 1986, compared to a median year of 1976 in greater Kansas City.

Through careful planning and development, Overland Park has all the criteria homebuyers seek: homes that retain their appeal and value, one of the nation’s lowest crime rates, schools that rank among the best in the nation, the convenience of nearby shopping and accessibility to well-maintained highways and interstates.

Best Cities to Buy a House (#2) - Niche (2023)

Best Places to Rent in the Country (#2) - Wallet Hub (2022)

Best Cities to be Stuck at Home (#4) - LawnStarter (2020)

Millennial Homeownership Rate (#27) - SmartAsset (2020)

In Overland Park, homebuyers value both high quality and affordability. The average sale price of an Overland Park home is $531,498 (Appraiser's Office, 2022) and the average appraised value is $414,689 (2022). Overland Park, as a whole, benefits from a high owner occupancy unit rate at 63.0% (Census, 2021)

The city’s older neighborhoods are generally north of 95^th Street, where well-maintained and picturesque homes date to the post-World War II migration of families from Kansas City’s inner neighborhoods to the suburbs. These older neighborhoods offer first-time homebuyers excellent choices. To help maintain these historic neighborhoods, the City of Overland Park offers programs to assist homeowners with property maintenance.

Residential development has burgeoned south of Interstate 435, expanding the city limits as far south as 203^rd Street. Real estate in southern Overland Park is ideal for those who want to invest in a larger, feature-packed home and are relocating from a more expensive market.

Newer options in the local housing market have been mixed-use developments where townhomes, condos, lofts and apartments share a village-like setting with retail and office space and entertainment venues, giving residents an urban lifestyle where they can walk to shops, dining, entertainment and everyday services. There are a number of new housing properties in and near downtown Overland Park, including Avenue 80, InterUrban Lofts, and The Promontory, with more housing options developing at locations like CityPlace.

Source: City of Overland Park, American Community Survey, Johnson County, County Economic Research Institute (CERI), ESRI, U.S. Census Bureau

Lifestyle

Overland Park residents can enjoy an active lifestyle with a diverse range of options for leisurely pursuits – from sports and recreation to unique entertainment venues, flourishing arts and some of the Midwest’s best shopping and dining. With 83 city parks, five public swimming pools, miles of recreational trails, state-of-the-art community centers, public and private golf courses, there’s no lack of ways to stay healthy.

For sports and recreation, Overland Park has premier facilities that include Blue Valley Recreation Commission’s rec centers and sports complexes, Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex and Urban Air Adventure Park.

The 12-acre Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and the 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are unique places to appreciate nature and our agricultural heritage.

The Overland Park Farmers’ Market in Downtown Overland Park is a vibrant public gathering spot that builds community pride and spirit by bringing together shoppers of all ages and interests. In a nationwide contest held in 2022, it received the most votes to be named the favorite farmers market in the country.

The Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, housed in a modernist landmark built in 1959, is home to the Johnson County Museum and numerous arts and theatre programs. A newer landmark is the Museum at Prairiefire, known for its gleaming dichroic glass façade on the outside and its meaningful learning experiences on the inside.

Visual and performing arts flourish. Sculptures and other artworks are on display in city parks, along major thoroughfares and in numerous public spaces. Johnson County Community College enriches the community with its Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, renowned Oppenheimer Collection and performing arts at the college’s first-class venues.

A full season of events presents the opportunity to enjoy beautiful outdoor settings at events such as the Clock Tower Concert Series at the Farmer’s Market, concerts in city parks, festivals in the downtown district and numerous events at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

Newer attractions feature unique entertainment where you can hit microchipped golf balls in climate-controlled hitting bays, play bocce or pickleball, swing an axe at the target, work as a team to escape a locked room, and face off against friends, family or co-workers in a game show arena.

Best City for Families (#1) - Livability (2022)

Top Farmers Market in the United States (#1) - America's Farmers Market Celebration (2022)

Best Places to Live (#29) - Money Magazine (2023)

Happiest Cities in America (#15) - WalletHub, March 9 (2020)

For more information on things to do in Overland Park: Visit Overland Park & the City of Overland Park

Retail

In 2015, Overland Park welcomed two first-to-market retail stores that had consumers buzzing with anticipation. SCHEELS, a 220,000-square-foot sporting goods store opened in Corbin Park and became an instant attraction with unparalleled retail options, as well as a Ferris wheel and an aquarium. The opening of The Container Store capped off the redevelopment of Hawthorne Plaza at 119^th Street and Roe Avenue. Retail comprises 11 percent of business activity in Overland Park, which has nearly 18 million square feet of retail space. Overland Park boasts hundreds of locally-owned shops, along with nationally-recognized retailers and department stores. Retail sales have grown by 6.2 percent in recent years to nearly $5 billion. Of the $14.4 billion in total retail sales in Johnson County in 2018, Overland Park was responsible for 34.6%.

Much of the city’s retail development can be found along Metcalf Avenue, the city’s historic main artery running north and south and along the east-west corridors of 95^th, 119^th, 135^th and 151^st streets. New developments along the Metcalf corridor include the Lowe's at 95th Street and the shops at Promontory between 89th and 91st Streets.

Committed to reinvigorating the Metcalf corridor, the City of Overland Park adopted Vision Metcalf, a long-range plan that encourages mixed-use development, integrated open and green space, and a balanced transportation system that embraces pedestrian usage and sustainability measures.

Downtown Overland Park blends the traditions of a Main Street setting with the more contemporary vibe of one-of-a-kind local shops, art galleries, restaurants, services, events and one of the city’s most popular attractions: the Farmers’ Market. Century-old buildings stand next to sleek new buildings. Several mixed-use development projects are in the works that will bring multi-family units with ground-floor retail space, promising to increase the activity and vibrant atmosphere of the city’s heart.

Overland Park has numerous indoor and outdoor shopping centers. At 1.5 million square feet, Oak Park Mall is the largest enclosed mall in both the Kansas City metro area and the entire state of Kansas. Nordstrom, LEGO and Microsoft are among its 200 stores and restaurants. Other open-air shopping centers, such as Hawthorne Plaza, Rosana Square and the Shoppes at Deer Creek Woods, offer upscale stores and dining.

A new hot spot for retail in Overland Park is 135^th Street where two active retail developments, Prairiefire and Corbin Park, are side by side between Metcalf Avenue and Nall Avenue. Prairiefire is a 58-acre mixed-used project that integrates residential, office, retail and entertainment. Corbin Park is a 1.1 million-square-foot retail village with Tuscan-inspired architecture and tree-lined courtyards. Its anchor stores include Von Maur, JC Penney and SCHEELS, which offers the state’s largest selection of sporting goods.