Business/Managerial Economics at Washburn University

With estimated debt of $21,125 against first-year earnings around $53,000, this business economics program appears to track close to the national middle ground for the major. Comparable programs across the country suggest a debt load slightly below the typical $22,250, while earnings align with the national median. The 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would owe roughly five months' income—a manageable starting point for a business degree that often gains value with experience.

The challenge is that these estimates come from peer programs nationwide, not Washburn's actual outcomes. Kansas schools in this field typically see debt closer to $23,448, so the estimated figure here might be conservative. What we can say is that business economics programs generally produce steadier, if unspectacular, early earnings compared to more volatile fields, and the debt burden suggested here wouldn't require heroic repayment efforts on a $53,000 salary.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable, not exceptional, value—assuming the reality matches the peer data. The 31% Pell grant enrollment indicates Washburn serves students who need affordability. If your child is set on business economics in Kansas and Washburn offers the right environment, these projections shouldn't disqualify it. But pressing the school for any graduate outcome data they can share, even informally, would help confirm whether their results mirror these national patterns or deviate significantly.