Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University

Kansas State's chemical engineering graduates start strong at $77,492 and keep climbing—hitting nearly $100,000 by year four. That's a 26% jump in earnings that puts this program ahead of both the national median ($72,974) and Kansas's state average ($70,681). Within Kansas, it sits at the 60th percentile, which becomes more impressive when you see that Kansas has only three chemical engineering programs total, and K-State's outcomes beat the University of Kansas by more than $13,000 in first-year earnings.

The debt picture reinforces the value: $24,750 is manageable for these starting salaries, translating to a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio—well below the typical worry threshold. Graduates earn roughly three times their debt in that first year, giving them real financial breathing room. The 26% earnings trajectory suggests these graduates are moving into more senior roles or specialized positions quickly, which is exactly what you want to see from an engineering degree.

For a school with a 79% admission rate, K-State delivers competitive chemical engineering outcomes without requiring Ivy-level credentials to get in. Your child would graduate with reasonable debt and strong earning potential in a field where experience compounds quickly into higher pay.