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Air Transportation at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,198/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (33% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,400 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #29 of 54 Air Transportation programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Air Transportation graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $541K $538K $503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.4x 12.3x 11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 48% 39%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$59,840
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $51,198 at Kansas State University come in 16% above the national median of $44,286 for Air Transportation programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Air Transportation programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Air Transportation's typical career paths, with 33% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $51,198 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #29 of 54 Air Transportation programs, Kansas State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Kansas State University

Kansas State University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 14,835 students in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers $226,600/yr
Air traffic controllers $144,580/yr
Commercial pilots $122,670/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 54 schools offering Air Transportation →

Air Transportation at Other Schools

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus ($88,085) Hallmark University ($79,086) University of North Texas ($56,487) Utah Valley University ($56,402) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott ($54,827) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ($54,827) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide ($54,827) Everglades University ($53,331)

Other Majors at Kansas State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,758) Computer Engineering ($77,938) Industrial Engineering ($77,724) Chemical Engineering ($77,492) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($76,385) Agricultural and Food Products Processing ($76,052) Construction Engineering Technologies ($74,253) Architectural Engineering ($74,091)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Air Transportation trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Air Transportation at Kansas State University?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Air Transportation. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →