Computer Engineering at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
71
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,938/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 18.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #128 of 174 Computer Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $828K $790K $638K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.1x 14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.1x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 71 64

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 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,500
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $77,938 track close to the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 18.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 71% task exposure — and the 23% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,500 in median debt against $77,938 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #128 out of 174 programs, Kansas State University's financial outcomes for Computer Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Kansas State University

Kansas State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 14,835 in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Computer Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kansas State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Kansas State University's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Kansas State University trails the majority of Computer Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Computer Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 71% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →