International Business at Pittsburg State University

A 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable financial footing if the national estimates hold true here. Based on comparable International Business bachelor's programs nationwide, graduates typically earn around $50,000 in their first year and carry roughly $21,500 in debt—meaning about five months of gross income to cover what's owed. That's within reasonable bounds for a four-year degree, though it's worth noting that Kansas programs in this field have historically produced lower first-year earnings, closer to $39,000 at schools like Wichita State.

The challenge is that these figures come entirely from peer programs, not Pittsburg State's own graduates, so there's real uncertainty about whether this specific campus delivers outcomes matching the national median or falls closer to the state average. If earnings land near the Kansas benchmark instead, that $21,500 debt becomes considerably harder to manage. Pittsburg State's 88% admission rate and moderate test scores suggest this is an accessible program, which is positive, but doesn't clarify whether graduates compete effectively for higher-paying international business roles.

For families willing to absorb some uncertainty, the estimated numbers point to reasonable value if outcomes track nationally. But given the lack of school-specific data, you'd want direct answers from the career services office about where recent graduates actually land jobs and what they're earning—particularly whether they're securing positions that justify this investment over staying in-state for international business training.