Management Information Systems and Services at Kansas State University

Kansas State's MIS program lands squarely in the middle of the pack, both nationally and within Kansas. With first-year earnings of $60,144, graduates earn slightly above the national median but trail the University of Kansas by about $800. What works in this program's favor is the debt picture: at $24,308, students borrow roughly what peers do nationally and leave with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40—meaning they owe less than half their starting salary, which is manageable territory for technology-related fields.

The challenge here is what you're not getting for a relatively selective state university. Kansas State ranks exactly at the state median for MIS earnings, suggesting no premium for attending the flagship over smaller programs like Fort Hays State. The program also sits at just the 52nd percentile nationally—meaning half of MIS programs produce better immediate returns. For a degree in a field where school reputation and recruiting networks can meaningfully impact starting salaries, this middle-of-the-road performance may disappoint families expecting more from a well-known name.

For Kansas residents paying in-state tuition, the math works fine—reasonable debt for a $60K starting salary in a growing field. But if you're weighing Kansas State against out-of-state options or other Kansas schools, understand you're paying for the broader college experience and campus resources, not necessarily superior MIS outcomes.