Computer and Information Sciences at Kansas State University

Kansas State's Computer Science graduates earn $76,385 their first year out—about $15,000 more than the national median and $10,000 above the state average. That's 86th percentile nationally, which means this program outperforms roughly five out of six comparable CS programs across the country. Within Kansas, it's the clear earnings leader, beating University of Kansas by nearly $9,000 despite similar debt levels around $26,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 translates to roughly four months of gross income to cover the entire undergraduate debt load—a manageable figure that leaves plenty of room for savings and quality of life. Given the median CS graduate nationally carries $25,000 in debt anyway, K-State students aren't paying a premium; they're just getting better results. The 79% admission rate also suggests this isn't a hyper-selective program inflating outcomes through gatekeeping.

For Kansas families, this is straightforward: your child can attend the state's flagship tech program, pay typical in-state costs, and graduate earning more than peers at peer institutions. The strong salary outcomes suggest either superior curriculum, better employer connections, or both. Unless a student has compelling reasons to go elsewhere (specific research interests, scholarship offers), K-State delivers the best computer science ROI in Kansas.