Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at University of Kansas

University of Kansas graduates in Communication Disorders Sciences outpace most of their peers, earning $30,227 in their first year—nearly $5,500 more than the national median for this bachelor's degree. The 81st percentile national ranking is impressive, though the middle-of-the-pack 60th percentile state ranking suggests Kansas programs generally perform well. With debt of $23,781 (below the 37th percentile nationally), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 is manageable, meaning graduates can expect to pay back less than a year's salary.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers could shift significantly from year to year. However, the pattern is encouraging: KU charges less debt than most similar programs while delivering stronger-than-average earnings. For context, Wichita State's comparable program shows considerably lower first-year earnings at $21,429, suggesting KU's Lawrence location or program reputation may offer advantages in the job market.

For students planning to pursue graduate work in speech-language pathology—the typical career path for this major—keeping undergraduate debt under control while earning competitive entry-level income positions graduates well for additional schooling. The numbers justify the investment, but verify that recent cohorts show similar outcomes before committing.