Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Kansas State University

Kansas State's electrical engineering program lands solidly in the middle of the pack, earning graduates $78,758 in their first year—roughly matching both national and state medians. Within Kansas's small cohort of three engineering schools, K-State ranks second, trailing only KU by about $2,500. The 60th percentile state ranking means it outperforms Wichita State but hasn't quite closed the gap with KU's flagship program.

The debt picture here is actually better than the national norm. At $23,105, graduates owe about $1,900 less than the typical electrical engineering grad nationwide, creating a favorable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means students pay back roughly three months' salary in loans—a manageable burden for engineering salaries. Four years out, earnings grow to $87,029, a respectable 11% increase that suggests steady career progression.

For Kansas families, this represents a straightforward value proposition: solid engineering outcomes at a slightly below-average debt load. You're not getting premium earnings that would justify paying significantly more elsewhere, but you're also not gambling on an underperforming program. The accessible 79% admission rate makes this a realistic target for most students interested in electrical engineering, and the combination of reasonable debt with steady mid-career growth should allow graduates to build comfortable financial futures without the stress of outsized loan payments.