At $18,889/yr net price, Pittsburg State University graduates earn $50,579/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $16,579/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,889 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $75,556 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,579/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$16,579/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 57.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $18,969 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,392/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,369/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,833/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,287/yr |
| $110,001+ | $19,715/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Management. | Bachelor | $66,941 | $21,684 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $61,218 | |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $60,452 | $20,588 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $54,586 | $18,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $51,273 | $23,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $48,432 | $19,119 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Master | $47,260 | $27,185 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $46,087 | $15,570 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $45,852 | $27,785 |
| Computer Systems Analysis. | Bachelor | $45,383 | $18,951 |
The Risk Factor
57.6% of students at Pittsburg State University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Pittsburg State gives you a solid financial return if you pick the right major, and the debt load stays low enough that the math works for most families. Median debt sits below the median 10-year earnings, which is the ratio you want to see. The technical and applied programs are where this school pays off.
Construction Management is the clear winner, and it pushes graduate pay well past what the typical Pitt State degree returns. The engineering technology tracks,electrical, industrial production, mechanical,all land in the low-to-mid $60,000s and $50,000s, feeding directly into the manufacturing and construction employers across southeast Kansas and the broader four-state region. Nursing pairs strong pay with the lowest debt of any top program here, making it the safest bet on the list. These are hands-on, employer-facing credentials, not general liberal arts degrees, so the return is tied to going into these specific fields.
The risk is the graduation rate. Roughly four in ten students don't finish in the tracked window, and a degree you don't complete leaves you with debt and no earnings bump. The 78% retention rate tells you the drop-off happens after year one, so the danger is stalling out midway. Borrow for a program you'll actually finish.
The net price tiers are unusual: families earning under $48,000 pay slightly less than families earning $75,000 to $110,000, who pay the most at over $20,000 a year. If you're in that upper-middle band, you carry close to full sticker price with less grant help. Lower-income families get a modest break but still pay over $17,000.
This school fits you if you want a construction, engineering technology, or nursing career in the Midwest and plan to finish. If you're chasing a non-technical major or unsure you'll graduate, the return gets thin fast.