City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning at Kansas State University

Peer programs in this specialized field suggest a debt-to-earnings picture that's reasonably balanced, with estimated first-year earnings of $44,146 against borrowed debt of $25,244. Kansas State is the only public university in the state offering an undergraduate urban planning degree, which matters if you're committed to staying in-state but limits your ability to comparison shop locally. The debt burden, based on similar programs nationally, represents about 57% of that first year's salary—workable if your child enters the field directly and stays employed, though urban planning careers can vary significantly depending on whether graduates land municipal positions, consulting roles, or continue to graduate school.

The bigger question is career trajectory. Planning is a field where many professionals pursue master's degrees for advancement, which could mean additional borrowing down the road. The estimated earnings align exactly with the national median for bachelor's-level planning programs, suggesting Kansas State likely provides comparable preparation to other schools. However, without actual graduate outcomes for this specific program, you're relying on the assumption that K-State's graduates perform similarly to the national pool.

Given the estimation uncertainty and the profession's tendency toward graduate education, treat this as a viable starting point rather than a complete credential. If your child is serious about urban planning, the manageable debt load provides flexibility for either entering the workforce or pursuing further education without being overleveraged from the bachelor's degree alone.