Social Sciences at Kansas State University

Kansas State's Social Sciences program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but that position becomes more interesting when you look at the numbers closely. Graduates earn $40,793 in their first year—landing at the 60th percentile among Kansas programs and comfortably above the national median of $37,459. The debt load of $27,500 is manageable, translating to a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio that's well within reasonable territory. This is a program where students aren't being saddled with outsized debt relative to what they'll earn.

The earnings trajectory deserves attention, though. Growth from year one to year four is modest at 4%, bringing median pay to $42,603. For context, that keeps graduates ahead of national benchmarks but doesn't show the kind of acceleration you'd hope to see. Social sciences degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate school or specific career paths, so these numbers may reflect graduates still finding their footing rather than reaching their earning potential.

For a Kansas family, this represents a solid in-state option without the financial red flags that plague many liberal arts programs. Your child will graduate with debt they can reasonably service on their starting salary, and they'll be competitive with peers statewide. Just understand that the degree itself may be more valuable as a foundation than as a ticket to immediate salary growth.