Marketing at Rasmussen University-Kansas

Rasmussen's marketing graduates start behind, earning $41,377 initially—below both the Kansas median ($44,401) and national average ($44,728). But the trajectory tells a different story: earnings jump 42% by year four to reach $58,760, eventually surpassing the state's top programs including Kansas State and KU. The question is whether that growth curve justifies the upfront costs.

The debt burden here demands scrutiny. At $37,530, graduates carry roughly $12,000 more than typical Kansas marketing majors and $13,000 above the national median. That's substantial when you're starting at $41k—though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 remains manageable, and the strong four-year earnings help accelerate payoff. Over half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting this program primarily serves students who may have limited alternatives.

For families comparing options, the calculus is straightforward: you're paying premium debt for below-average starting salaries, banking on meaningful career acceleration. If your student has admission to Kansas State, KU, or even Washburn—all offering similar or lower debt with stronger initial earnings—those represent safer bets. But for students who need the flexibility Rasmussen provides (often working adults or those needing non-traditional schedules), the eventual earnings growth makes this viable, provided they can weather the challenging first few years of loan payments.