Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,646/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (447,800 openings/yr)
ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 of 67 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $667K $651K $576K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.2x 14.9x 13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.8x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 61

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 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,150
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,863
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,646 track close to the $44,903 national median for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,150 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,646 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #8 of 67 nationally, this is a top-5% Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $71,863 show a 81% jump from the $39,646 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Kansas State University

Kansas State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 14,835 students in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
General and operations managers $102,950/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Other Schools

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Consider the Trade Route?

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 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Kansas State University?
A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations field.
Will AI replace Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $575,953 in decade earnings vs $667,382 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Kansas State University's Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program stand out?
Ranked #8 of 67 programs nationally, Kansas State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →