Finance and Financial Management Services at Washburn University

Washburn's finance program lands squarely in the middle of Kansas options but trails the national market by a meaningful margin. Starting at $49,500, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the typical finance major nationwide and slightly below the Kansas median. Within the state, this program ranks near the 40th percentile—outpacing Wichita State but falling well behind heavyweights like Kansas, K-State, and even smaller Benedictine College.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $21,136, students borrow roughly $2,000 less than both state and national medians, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. For a program serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (31%), keeping debt low matters. The 21% earnings bump by year four also shows solid momentum, though graduates still haven't caught up to what peers at other schools earn right out of the gate.

For Kansas families looking to stay in-state, Washburn represents an affordable entry point into finance—you'll graduate with less debt than most. But if your child can access KU or K-State, the $8,000+ earnings advantage those programs deliver in year one quickly outweighs any modest debt differences. Washburn works best for students prioritizing cost containment over maximizing early career earnings potential.