Mathematics and Computer Science at Wichita State University

A $24,000 debt load to earn nearly $90,000 in the first year sounds impressive, but these figures come with significant uncertainty—both the earnings and debt are estimates based on peer programs nationally, since this specific program's graduate numbers are too small for the Department of Education to publish. That estimation matters more than usual here because Wichita State is the only Kansas school reporting this particular combination of mathematics and computer science, leaving no state-level comparison to ground expectations.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about three months of gross income, which would represent exceptional value if the $89,651 figure holds. Nationally, this dual-major combination commands strong salaries—the median sits at $89,651 with top programs reaching $109,843—so the market demand is real. The question is whether Wichita State's specific program delivers outcomes matching these national peers, given its open admission profile and the fact that its data comes from estimates rather than tracked graduates.

For parents, the fundamental challenge is clear: you're betting on a program structure (combining math and CS) that typically performs well, but without concrete evidence of how *this* program's graduates fare in the job market. The estimated numbers suggest solid value, but the small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression means you're making this investment decision with less certainty than you'd have with most programs.