Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$10,939 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
28.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$21,868 / year
10-year scenario
+4% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$71,747 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+44%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$52,490$75,615
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
26Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

31Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
15Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$71,747$37,689 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,406

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,312

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$71,747

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$215/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,406Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,402Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE71.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$52,490Year 1
$71,747Year 4
$75,615Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$5,979
Estimated loan payment$215
26borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$71,747 vs. $82,686

$10,939 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Economists$138,790 median wageKS estimate · 80 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeManagers, All Other$131,710 median wageKS estimate · 2,690 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$103,490 median wageKS estimate · 130 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$67,740 median wageKS estimate · 170 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$57,700 median wageKS estimate · 210 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$111,780 median wageKS estimate · 80 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$98,130 median wageKS estimate · 490 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$70,430 median wageKS estimate · 8,090 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,920 median wageKS estimate · 10,860 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Lawrence, KS

University of Kansas

$1,347 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,084
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$18,059
View outcomes →
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

$94,931 higher earnings · $7,387 less debt · $1,690 lower annual net price

Earnings
$166,678
Debt
$12,925
Annual net price
$17,716
View outcomes →
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

$89,016 higher earnings · $9,062 less debt · $13,278 lower annual net price

Earnings
$160,763
Debt
$11,250
Annual net price
$6,128
View outcomes →
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

$87,831 higher earnings · $7,115 less debt · $4,546 lower annual net price

Earnings
$159,578
Debt
$13,197
Annual net price
$14,860
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

22 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →