Business Administration, Management and Operations at Washburn University

Washburn's business program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it beats the national median by about $3,000 but lags behind most Kansas schools, ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. When half of the business programs in your own state deliver stronger earnings outcomes, you're looking at roughly $3,000-$4,000 less annually compared to the state median of $51,627—a gap that compounds over a career.

The $22,748 debt load is at least reasonable, running about $5,000 below both national and state averages. Combined with first-year earnings near $49,000, graduates face a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 13% earnings growth to $55,000 by year four shows steady progression, though it's not enough to close the gap with stronger Kansas programs like Baker University or University of Kansas, which start graduates $6,000-$10,000 higher right out of the gate.

For Kansas families, this creates a straightforward calculation: if Washburn offers significantly lower tuition than the state's top performers, the reduced debt might offset the earnings difference. But if costs are comparable, you're essentially paying similar money for below-median state outcomes. The program works fine as a budget option, but Kansas families have multiple stronger alternatives worth exploring first.