Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Kansas State University #344 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,711, placing Kansas State University in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Kansas State University sits in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #589 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Kansas State University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across its strongest pillars — graduates reach earnings that hold up well relative to similar students at comparable institutions, and the university's post-graduation affordability standing reinforces the case for students weighing long-run financial outcomes. The combination of competitive median earnings and a favorable affordability position makes Kansas State a practical choice for students seeking durable financial returns at a public research university in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #344 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University enrolls roughly 15,142 undergraduates. Retention stands at 85.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 71.1%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a large land-grant research university. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #426 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $64,711, and earn about $3,307 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Kansas State University in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the institution's primary program concentration, and the breadth of career-ready programs across agriculture, engineering, and business contributes to outcomes that hold up well relative to comparable institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Kansas State University admits about 81.7% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture consistent with its land-grant mission. 20.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.5% are first-generation college students, indicating meaningful reach into lower-income and first-generation populations. The institution sits in the 58.7 percentile for affordability and the 60.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 81.5 percentile — a composite profile shaped by strong return performance and broad enrollment reach.
Kansas State University's published cost of attendance is $27,402. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $13,178, middle-income families pay around $15,369, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,665. Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #589 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,283; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,711, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Kansas State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, agriculture, engineering, and applied professional fields who want a public research university experience in Manhattan, KS, with a program mix oriented toward practical career outcomes and regional employer networks. Graduates earn in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Kansas State University sits in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $3,307 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 20.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.5% are first-generation college students, with a Pell completion rate of 55.3% — figures that reflect Kansas State University's role as an accessible public institution for cost-sensitive and first-generation families across Midwest. Median student debt at graduation is $21,250, a manageable figure relative to the earnings trajectory most graduates follow. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing highly specialized or research-intensive disciplines may find a narrower range of options. The campus is in a smaller college town, which shapes both the social environment and the local employer landscape — students who plan to relocate after graduation for national career opportunities will find the earnings data more relevant than those anchoring to the immediate Manhattan labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Kansas State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Kansas State University's published cost of attendance is $27,402. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $13,178, middle-income families pay around $15,369, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,665.
Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #589 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,283; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,711, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Kansas State University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,711, placing Kansas State University in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,307 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Kansas State University in the 71.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Kansas State University #426 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That earnings figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band), reflecting the university's strong placement in applied, professional, and technical fields across KS's labor market.
The program lineup at Kansas State University is anchored by Business, which forms the core of the institution's degree output and connects graduates to stable, well-paying careers. Mechanical Engineering stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
Animal Sciences is the largest program by graduate count, with 238 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,941; Azimuth ranks Animal Sciences #16 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Teacher Education and Mechanical Engineering round out the popular-program tier, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,562 and $88,533 respectively.
Among the highest-earning programs, Business Administration and Finance deliver some of the strongest early-career pay at the institution, with median 4-year earnings of $69,735 and $75,705. The program mix spans Business (20% of graduates), Engineering (12%), and Education (8%), a distribution that reflects the university's broad professional orientation and helps explain its above-average earnings relative to the no-degree earnings baseline in KS of $32,165.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State University Similar quality tier (#10852 ranked) | NC | 90% | $51,836 | #10852 | Compare |
Central Washington University Similar quality tier (#10854 ranked) | WA | 91% | $61,580 | #10854 | Compare |
Western Michigan University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10845 ranked) | MI | 85% | $53,562 | #10845 | Compare |
North Carolina Central University Similar quality tier (#10859 ranked) | NC | 87% | $42,968 | #10859 | Compare |
Middle Georgia State University Similar quality tier (#10860 ranked) | GA | 100% | $40,863 | #10860 | Compare |
Computer and Information Sciences, General
105 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
38 graduates
Industrial Engineering
50 graduates
Chemical Engineering
41 graduates
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
69 graduates
Kansas State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful concentrations in Business (20% of graduates), Engineering (12%), and Education (8%). This distribution reflects the university's land-grant identity — a broad, applied portfolio spanning agriculture, engineering, and professional fields alongside its business core.
Across 76 programs serving roughly 3,927 graduates annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes are concentrated in a handful of high-demand fields where employer recruitment is consistent and early-career pay is solid. Mechanical Engineering anchors Kansas State University's economic profile, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — the combination that drives the largest aggregate return for graduates.
Among the most popular programs, Animal Sciences program graduates 238 students annually with median earnings of $50,941 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #16 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Teacher Education and Mechanical Engineering also enroll large cohorts — 224 and 182 graduates respectively — with four-year median earnings of $46,562 and $88,533, reflecting the breadth of the university's applied professional offerings.
The highest-earning programs at Kansas State University are concentrated in technical and professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly. Mechanical Engineering leads with median earnings of $88,533 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #132 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — followed by Accounting at $79,008 and Finance at $75,705.
These are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect genuine labor-market outcomes rather than a pre-graduate-school stepping stone. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national hiring trends.
