Apparel and Textiles at Kansas State University

Kansas State's Apparel and Textiles program produces graduates earning $37,529 in their first year—slightly above the national median for this field but well below what most families hope a bachelor's degree will deliver. The debt load of $22,773 is actually lower than the national typical for this major, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, which means graduates can theoretically pay off their loans with about seven months of gross income. That's manageable compared to many programs, though the absolute earnings level remains a concern.

The bigger challenge here is career trajectory. Apparel and textiles is a field where bachelor's degree holders often compete with associates-level workers and where many entry positions pay modestly regardless of your diploma. The program performs in the middle of the pack nationally (55th percentile), suggesting K-State isn't underperforming—the ceiling for this major is just inherently limited. With only one program in Kansas, in-state students don't have alternatives for comparison, which makes cost of attendance the critical variable.

For families considering this path, the question isn't whether K-State is a good choice for apparel studies—it appears to be reasonably priced and adequately effective—but whether this career direction justifies four years of university investment when technical training or design schools might offer more direct routes into the industry at lower cost.