Industrial Engineering at Kansas State University

Kansas State's industrial engineering program produces graduates earning $77,724 in their first year—a solid start that outperforms three-quarters of similar programs nationally. With only three schools in Kansas offering this degree, the state data is limited, but K-State sits right at the median for both earnings and debt within the state. The real story here is steady career progression: graduates see their income climb to over $91,000 by year four, a 17% increase that suggests strong demand for their skills in the job market.

The $25,000 debt load translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, meaning graduates owe roughly one-third of their first year's salary. That's manageable territory for an engineering degree, and the strong starting salary means most graduates can attack that debt aggressively if they choose. The earnings trajectory matters here—this isn't a field where you peak early and plateau. Your child would be entering a profession with clear advancement potential and immediate earning power.

For a moderately selective public university, this program delivers what parents want from an engineering degree: competitive starting pay, reasonable debt, and earnings that grow meaningfully in the first few years. The numbers show graduates are finding solid positions and advancing, which is exactly what you're paying for.