Business/Commerce (Bachelor's Degree) at Washburn University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,039

Est. from KS median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$24,480

Est. from KS median (3 programs)

Analysis

Kansas has nine schools offering business bachelor's degrees, and peer programs suggest Washburn's graduates enter the workforce around $48,000—roughly matching both the state and national medians for this credential. With estimated debt near $24,500, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold, meaning graduates would owe about half their first-year salary.

The challenge is that these figures come from comparable Kansas programs rather than Washburn-specific outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty in how this particular program performs. Among Kansas schools with reported data, outcomes vary dramatically—from Kansas State's $54,000 down to Bethel's $35,000. That $19,000 range shows that not all Kansas business degrees deliver the same return, and without Washburn's actual data, it's harder to know where they fall in that spectrum.

The estimated numbers suggest a manageable debt load for mid-range business earnings, which would typically signal reasonable value. But given that stronger programs in the state are producing notably higher earnings with similar debt levels, parents should dig deeper into Washburn's specific business program—career services, internship pipelines, employer connections—to understand whether it's positioned to deliver outcomes closer to Kansas State's level or the state median. The estimation uncertainty makes those program-specific strengths matter even more.

Where Washburn University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (9 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Washburn UniversityTopeka	$9,578	$48,039*	—	$24,480*	—
Kansas State UniversityManhattan	$10,942	$54,223*	—	$29,705*	0.55
University of KansasLawrence	$11,700	$49,339*	$60,067	$24,480*	0.50
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg	$8,008	$46,738*	$50,671	$23,015*	0.49
Bethel College-North NewtonNorth Newton	$34,002	$34,879*	—	$27,000*	0.77
National Median	—	$47,506*	—	$26,000*	0.55

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Washburn University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.