Finance and Financial Management Services at Wichita State University

Wichita State's finance program sits squarely in the middle of Kansas options, landing at the 40th percentile statewide—below the University of Kansas and K-State, but roughly on par with regional alternatives like Washburn. That positioning might be fine if the debt were proportionally lower, but at $26,000, graduates carry slightly more than both state and national medians. The bigger concern is national competitiveness: ranking in just the 27th percentile means most finance programs elsewhere are producing stronger early-career outcomes.

The positive here is manageable debt relative to earnings. A 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio gives graduates breathing room, and the 8% income growth from year one to year four suggests reasonable career progression. For Kansas families prioritizing in-state tuition at an accessible institution (95% admission rate), this program delivers functional preparation for finance careers without crushing debt burdens.

The calculation is straightforward: if your student can access one of the stronger Kansas programs like KU or K-State, the $4,500-$8,500 higher starting salary likely justifies any modest tuition difference. But for students who need Wichita State's accessibility or location, they'll enter finance careers earning solidly middle-class salaries with debt they can actually repay—just not with the competitive advantage that top-performing programs provide.