Finance and Financial Management Services at Ottawa University-Kansas City

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 suggests manageable repayment prospects, though the estimated $49,975 first-year earnings—derived from eight Kansas finance programs—lands at the lower end of what similar bachelor's programs typically produce. Nationally, finance graduates from comparable programs earn a median of $53,590, meaning this estimate sits roughly $3,600 below the national benchmark. In Kansas specifically, top programs like Benedictine College and the University of Kansas produce first-year earnings near $58,000, creating a notable gap that could compound over a career in a field where early positioning often matters.

The estimated $25,812 debt load runs slightly above both state and national medians for finance degrees, which typically hover around $23,000-$23,400. For a school serving 46% Pell-eligible students, that extra $2,000-$3,000 matters. Combined with below-benchmark earnings estimates, graduates might face tighter budgets in those crucial early career years when building financial stability and professional networks.

Without actual outcome data for Ottawa-KC specifically, you're relying on broader patterns that may not reflect this program's strengths or weaknesses. If your child has compelling reasons to attend—location flexibility, specific faculty connections, or career services proven through alumni conversations—those factors could outweigh the estimated numbers. Otherwise, programs with reported outcomes showing stronger earnings positioning deserve serious consideration, particularly given finance's competitive nature.