Computer Engineering at Wichita State University

Wichita State's Computer Engineering program starts graduates nearly $13,000 below the national median, landing in just the 13th percentile nationally—a significant gap that's hard to ignore even for a highly accessible university with a 95% admission rate. The one bright spot? Graduates carry $27,500 in debt, which is actually quite manageable and below both state and national averages, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a reasonable 0.42.

Within Kansas, this program sits squarely in the middle at the 40th percentile, trailing Kansas State by over $11,000 in starting earnings. The 19% earnings growth to $78,860 by year four helps close some of that gap, though graduates still enter the workforce at a notable disadvantage compared to peers from other programs. For students choosing between Kansas engineering schools based on cost and accessibility, Wichita State offers a lower debt burden but at the expense of significantly lower early earnings.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary considerably. Still, if your child can gain admission to Kansas State—or programs at similarly selective institutions—the earnings premium would likely justify any modest increase in debt. Wichita State's lower barriers to entry serve students who need them, but families should recognize they're trading initial earning power for accessibility.