Location: Manhattan, KS•In-State Tuition: $10,942•Out-of-State Tuition: $27,816•Admission Rate: 79%•Avg SAT: 1149
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$62,386
Est. from KS median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,847
Est. from KS median (3 programs)

Analysis

The $25,847 in debt typical of allied health programs at Kansas schools looks manageable against first-year earnings around $62,400—that 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates would need to dedicate less than half their first year's salary to pay off these loans. Kansas State sits in the middle of the pack here: comparable programs at Washburn produce higher earners, while KU's allied health grads trail considerably behind, suggesting that outcomes in this field vary significantly even within Kansas.

What matters is which specific allied health track your child pursues. These programs encompass everything from diagnostic imaging to respiratory therapy, and career trajectories differ substantially. The relatively modest debt load gives breathing room to explore different specializations, but the $62,400 estimate represents a broad average across multiple Kansas schools and career paths—not a guarantee for Kansas State specifically.

The practical takeaway: this program appears financially viable based on peer schools' performance, with debt levels that shouldn't be crushing for most allied health careers. However, the wide variation among Kansas schools (nearly $30,000 difference between top and bottom earners) means you should dig into which specific concentration your child plans to pursue and what Kansas State's placement record looks like in that particular specialty. The numbers work on paper, but the details of the specific career path will determine whether this investment truly pays off.

Where Kansas State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions bachelors's programs nationally

Kansas State University (estimated ±10%)Other allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Kansas State UniversityManhattan$10,942$62,386*—$25,847*—
Washburn UniversityTopeka$9,578$71,318*$58,291$25,000*0.35
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$62,386*$44,419$30,950*0.50
University of KansasLawrence$11,700$43,930*$55,393$25,847*0.59
National Median—$60,447*—$27,000*0.45
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions graduates

Medical Dosimetrists

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

$138,110/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Physician Assistants

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Anesthesiologist Assistants

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

$133,260/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nuclear Technicians

Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Collect and test samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.

$104,240/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiation Therapists

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

$101,990/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

$97,020/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians. Includes vascular technologists.

$89,340/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Respiratory Therapists

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

$80,450/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Take x-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient's bloodstream for diagnostic or research purposes. Includes radiologic technologists and technicians who specialize in other scanning modalities.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners. Monitor patient safety and comfort, and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. May interview patient, explain MRI procedures, and position patient on examining table. May enter into the computer data such as patient history, anatomical area to be scanned, orientation specified, and position of entry.

$78,980/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Kansas State University, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.