Construction Management at Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg State's Construction Management program lands graduates in solid-paying jobs with manageable debt, though it trails the national median by about $3,000 in first-year earnings. The $69,733 starting salary puts graduates at the 30th percentile nationally, but here's the critical context: Pittsburg State is the only institution in Kansas offering this bachelor's program. That 60th percentile state ranking becomes somewhat meaningless when you're looking at a single program, but the real comparison should be against national peers—and this program lags slightly behind what graduates earn elsewhere.

The debt picture offers more reassurance. At $23,461, graduates carry less than one-third of their first-year salary in loans, comfortably below the typical threshold for manageable repayment. Earnings grow respectably to $80,008 by year four, a 15% increase that suggests solid career progression in a field where experience matters. With an 88% admission rate and below-average SAT scores, Pittsburg State provides accessible entry into a stable construction industry career.

For Kansas families, the calculus is straightforward: if your student wants to study construction management in-state, this is the only bachelor's option. The slightly below-average national earnings won't prevent graduates from repaying their modest debt, and the construction sector's ongoing labor needs provide employment security. It's a practical path into middle-class earnings, even if it doesn't reach the top tier of construction management programs nationally.