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Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 14,835 Undergrads 65.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,441
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,883
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,262
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,883
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$57,262
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time91.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
79.4%
SAT Avg
1,149
SAT Reading
25th: 530-75th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 510-75th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 20-75th: 27
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$495k
+$99k
+$11k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$431k
+$35k
-$53k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$404k
+$7k
-$81k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
52
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-83%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-88%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-59%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-66%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,534
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Agricultural and Food Products Processing
BachCIP: 0104
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$83,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Agricultural Engineering
BachCIP: 1403
Median Debt
$18,757
Earnings (2yr)
$55,718
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Agricultural Mechanization
BachCIP: 0102
Median Debt
$19,344
Earnings (2yr)
$49,019
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$21,656
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Architectural Engineering
BachCIP: 1404
Median Debt
$26,726
Earnings (5yr)
$88,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,900
Earnings (5yr)
$65,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,982
Earnings (5yr)
$67,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,510
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$105,727
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,352
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$22,681
Earnings (5yr)
$57,251
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$94,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$24,197
Earnings (5yr)
$46,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$75,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$21,950
Earnings (5yr)
$85,606
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$311k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$20,150
Earnings (5yr)
$71,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$73,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
$23,187
Earnings (5yr)
$62,917
Lifetime Value Added
+$420
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$24,083
Earnings (5yr)
$66,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,789
Earnings (5yr)
$58,231
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$24,399
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,635
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (5yr)
$72,115
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$22,116
Earnings (5yr)
$89,754
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$65,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,678
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,519
Earnings (5yr)
$72,168
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,136
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,230
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,746
Earnings (5yr)
$53,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,408
Earnings (5yr)
$46,577
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$38,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (2yr)
$57,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Agricultural Business and Management
MastCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,968
Earnings (2yr)
$56,641
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,762
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$24,768
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Food Science and Technology
MastCIP: 0110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$24,630
Earnings (5yr)
$56,307
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Interior Architecture
MastCIP: 0405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,839
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$34,300
Earnings (5yr)
$52,008
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,050
Earnings (5yr)
$101,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
Professional Degrees
Veterinary Medicine
ProfCIP: 0180
Median Debt
$208,940
Earnings (5yr)
$113,136
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.