Manhattan, KS · Private University
Is Kansas State University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$57,262
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$10,942
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$27,816
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$111,264
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.06x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
70.5%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,250
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$17,883
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Kansas State University graduates earn $12,262 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Kansas State University ranked by graduate earnings
56 graduates
50 graduates
97 graduates
49 graduates
48 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Kansas State University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Kansas State University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Chemical Engineering: $97,457) and the lowest (Zoology/Animal Biology: $26,843) is $70,614/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical EngineeringBest ROI | $97,457 | 3.5x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $92,359 | 3.3x |
| Industrial Engineering | $91,252 | 3.3x |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $90,782 | 3.3x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $87,029 | 3.1x |
| Agricultural and Food Products Processing | $82,177 | 3.0x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $79,131 | 2.8x |
| Computer Engineering(1yr data) | $77,938 | 2.8x |
| Civil Engineering | $77,352 | 2.8x |
| Architectural Engineering | $77,173 | 2.8x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data) | $76,385 | 2.8x |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $71,863 | 2.6x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $68,922 | 2.5x |
| Economics | $68,155 | 2.5x |
| Engineering Technology, General | $67,664 | 2.4x |
| Natural Sciences | $65,682 | 2.4x |
| Gerontology | $64,651 | 2.3x |
| Agricultural Engineering(1yr data) | $64,644 | 2.3x |
| Business/Commerce, General | $64,510 | 2.3x |
| Agricultural Mechanization(1yr data) | $63,239 | 2.3x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,146 | 2.3x |
| Food Science and Technology | $62,746 | 2.3x |
| Marketing | $61,965 | 2.2x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $61,185 | 2.2x |
| Air Transportation | $59,840 | 2.1x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,548 | 2.1x |
| Political Science and Government | $56,647 | 2.0x |
| History | $49,990 | 1.8x |
| Biology, General | $49,286 | 1.8x |
| Plant Sciences | $47,890 | 1.7x |
| Journalism | $47,601 | 1.7x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,562 | 1.6x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas(1yr data) | $45,179 | 1.6x |
| Social Work | $45,037 | 1.6x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research(1yr data) | $44,486 | 1.6x |
| Animal Sciences | $44,097 | 1.6x |
| Design and Applied Arts(1yr data) | $43,992 | 1.6x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,398 | 1.6x |
| Mathematics(1yr data) | $43,067 | 1.6x |
| Social Sciences, General | $42,603 | 1.5x |
| Sociology | $40,827 | 1.5x |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other(1yr data) | $39,705 | 1.4x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $38,866 | 1.4x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,783 | 1.4x |
| Apparel and Textiles(1yr data) | $37,529 | 1.4x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management(1yr data) | $37,083 | 1.3x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology(1yr data) | $36,257 | 1.3x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $35,523 | 1.3x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $35,503 | 1.3x |
| Nutrition Sciences(1yr data) | $33,381 | 1.2x |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences(1yr data) | $31,958 | 1.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General(1yr data) | $31,364 | 1.1x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $29,651 | 1.1x |
| Zoology/Animal BiologyLowest(1yr data) | $26,843 | 1.0x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
Kansas State University stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $57,262 10 years after starting — $12,262 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.