Security Science and Technology at Wichita State University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 sits in reasonable territory for a bachelor's degree, though the modest first-year salary warrants careful consideration. Based on comparable security science programs nationally, graduates typically start around $39,000—manageable enough that the estimated $24,000 in debt shouldn't take more than a few years to pay down with disciplined budgeting. That said, this isn't a high-earning field out of the gate, and your student will need to be strategic about living costs and career advancement.

Security science programs occupy an interesting niche between traditional criminal justice and technical cybersecurity roles, and career trajectory matters enormously here. If this degree leads to federal positions or specialized corporate security roles, earnings can climb substantially after those first years. But if it channels into lower-tier security guard management, that $39,000 might represent a ceiling rather than a floor. The field's broad nature means outcomes vary more than the national data suggests.

Given the small sample sizes that required estimating both earnings and debt, you're essentially making an investment decision with limited visibility into this specific program's track record. Wichita State's high admission rate and accessibility make it a practical choice, but push hard on career services about actual placement outcomes and whether graduates are landing the technical roles that justify a four-year degree versus simpler certifications that cost far less.