Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas · Public · 81.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Kansas State University, the flagship land-grant public in Manhattan, Kansas, posts a Fair Value ROI score of 69/100. The fundamentals are solid across the board: 71.1% completion rate, 9.8-year payback period, debt-to-earnings of 0.513, and an 81.2% repayment rate that shows graduates are servicing loans reliably. In-state tuition is $11,221, with a $19,406 net price after aid and a four-year total around $77,624 - reasonable for a research university with strong engineering and ag-science programs. Out-of-state tuition runs $28,568, materially higher. Median earnings six years after entry sit at $41,400, rising to $57,262 at ten years - that ten-year figure tells the real K-State story, because the engineering and tech majors push the upper half well into the $80,000-$100,000 range. The earnings premium over high-school grads is 28.7%, which is decent but reflects the wide spread of majors. What drives the 69 score up: high completion, strong repayment, and a reasonable debt load. What holds it back from elite tier: median early earnings are dragged down by the large education, animal-science, and biology cohorts that earn well below the engineering grads. Major choice matters here more than at most schools.
Kansas State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,221/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,568/yr |
| Average net price | $19,406/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,624 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,262 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $225 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,142 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Kansas State University is $11,221/year ($28,568/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,406/year, or roughly $77,624 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,178/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,665/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $225 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $57,262 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.51 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,178 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,143 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,369 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,110 |
| $110,001+ | $23,665 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,178 per year net - meaningfully below sticker, thanks to Pell and state aid. Over four years that is about $52,712, well within reasonable bounds given $41,400 median earnings and the strong-program upside. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $14,143, still affordable. Lower-income students who pick a strong-ROI major do well at K-State.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income households ($48,001-$110,000) pay $15,369 to $20,110 per year. Four-year cost runs $61,000-$80,000. This is the bracket where K-State delivers most clearly: full-pay state-university quality at a meaningful discount versus private alternatives, with engineering and tech majors easily clearing payback in under a decade.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,665 per year net - roughly twice the published in-state tuition because more of the room/board and full-pay positioning shows up at this bracket. Four-year cost is $94,660, still below typical private-school numbers. For high-income Kansans, K-State remains a strong-value pick versus going out-of-state.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Kansas State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $46,562 | C |
| Animal Sciences | $50,941 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $75,705 | C+ |
| Marketing | $69,837 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,735 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,533 | B+ |
| Nutrition Sciences | $62,128 | D |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $65,677 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $53,337 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $107,194 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is K-State's signature program - 140 graduates a year earning $72,627 at one year and $88,533 at four years, with $25,000 median debt and a 0.344 debt-to-earnings ratio - a B+ ROI grade. This is the K-State pitch: top-quartile engineering outcomes at land-grant tuition. Strong placement in aerospace, energy, and manufacturing across Kansas, Texas, and the broader Midwest.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer sciences (106 grads) earn $76,385 at year one and $107,194 at year four - the highest four-year earnings figure on campus. Median debt of $25,871 and a 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio yield a B+ ROI grade. The four-year jump from $76k to $107k reflects strong career progression in tech roles. Best-in-show major at K-State for raw ROI.
Teacher Education
Teacher education is the second-largest program at 221 graduates, but the financial profile is weak: $44,320 first-year earnings, $46,562 at four years (essentially no growth), $24,999 median debt, and a 0.564 debt-to-earnings ratio yielding a C ROI grade. Kansas teacher salaries cap the upside. The mission rationale is real; the financial rationale is not.
Animal Sciences
Animal sciences (211 graduates) is one of K-State's largest programs by volume but posts $38,868 first-year earnings, $50,941 at four years, $22,757 debt, and a 0.585 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C ROI grade. Many graduates pursue vet school or grad work where this serves as a feeder; for those stopping at the bachelor's, the earnings are modest relative to debt.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (173 grads) earns $54,509 at year one and $75,705 at year four, with $24,990 median debt and a 0.458 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C+ ROI grade. The four-year earnings ramp is healthy and consistent with finance career progression. Solid mid-range outcome - not flashy, but a defensible pick for Kansas students staying in the regional finance and ag-finance economy.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 81.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 15,142 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,853 |
K-State admits 81.69% of applicants - moderately selective but accessible to most prepared in-state students. SAT mid-ranges are 510-620 math and 550-640 reading; ACT composite mid-range is 20-27. These are mainstream public-flagship numbers, signaling K-State takes a broad cross-section of Kansas students. The 71% completion rate is consistent with the selectivity profile - prepared students who arrive ready to study typically finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
K-State's Scorecard peers include Emporia State University and Fort Hays State University (regional Kansas publics with lower ROI scores due to fewer high-earning STEM programs), plus West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Rowan University in New Jersey, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Against this group, K-State's 69 ROI score is competitive - it benefits from a stronger engineering pipeline than the Kansas regionals and a lower cost than the East Coast peers. Engineering and ag-science programs put K-State materially ahead of the regional comparison set.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State University (this school) | 69 | $19,406 | $57,262 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | 72 | $15,664 | $57,624 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 67 | $23,331 | $61,258 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| Fort Hays State University | 52 | $12,569 | $48,928 |
| Emporia State University | 44 | $16,261 | $47,601 |
Who Thrives Here
K-State enrolls 15,142 students with a 20.71% Pell rate, a typical land-grant mix skewing rural and Kansas-resident. The fit is strongest for students targeting engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical, industrial), agriculture (food science, plant science, ag business), and computer sciences - all of which post B or B+ ROI grades with median first-year earnings of $60,000-$78,000. Students drawn to soft sciences, animal science (211 grads, $38,868 first-year earnings, C grade), or general biology should weigh major selection carefully.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Kansas State University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $19,406 per year leads to $77,624 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $57,262 a decade out. The payback period of 9.8 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 71.1% graduation rate.
Median debt of $21,250 against $57,262 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.