Marketing at Rasmussen University-Kansas

Rasmussen University-Kansas charges $8,000 more in debt than the national median for associate marketing programs, yet delivers first-year earnings that beat three-quarters of similar programs nationwide. That's a complicated tradeoff. Graduates start at $44,293—well above the $41,955 national median—but earnings flatline completely over the next three years. Among Kansas marketing programs, this sits at the 60th percentile, meaning it's middle-of-the-pack for the state.

The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, particularly compared to many other associate programs, but parents should question why debt runs so much higher here than at most marketing programs nationally. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, this institution clearly serves students who need financial aid, making that extra $8,000 in debt more consequential. The complete absence of earnings growth is also noteworthy—most graduates will earn essentially the same amount four years out as they did immediately after graduation.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means one or two outliers could skew these numbers significantly. If your child has other options with lower debt loads, those deserve serious consideration. But if accessibility and above-average starting earnings matter most, this program does deliver on those fronts—just expect to pay more upfront and see little income growth in the early career years.