# Washburn University: Communications (bachelor's)

Topeka, KS. IPEDS 156082, CIP 09.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/washburn-university/majors/communications

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $39,932
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $46,497 (U.S. median for this major: $54,283 across 639 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $21,875 (U.S. median $25,000)
- Rank in KS: 6 of 8 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the KS median for this major (8 colleges, $51,688): -$5,191
- Versus the U.S. median: -$7,786

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.49 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $46,497 minus $34,216 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KS (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $20,310 | $91,192 | 7.4 years |
| 30-48k | $9,693 | $43,522 | 3.5 years |
| 48-75k | $10,758 | $48,303 | 3.9 years |
| 75-110k | $13,922 | $62,510 | 5.1 years |
| 110k+ | $15,472 | $69,469 | 5.7 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Communications at KS colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas | $60,258 | $22,250 | $18,059 | 69% |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | $59,445 | $27,000 | $27,963 | 28% |
| Ottawa University-Kansas City | $59,445 | $27,000 | not reported | not reported |
| Kansas State University | $52,603 | $24,945 | $19,406 | 71% |
| Wichita State University | $50,773 | $25,159 | $13,194 | 51% |
| Washburn University | $46,497 | $21,875 | $15,280 | 53% |
| Pittsburg State University | $45,940 | $23,250 | $15,784 | 57% |
| Emporia State University | $45,003 | $26,000 | $16,261 | 56% |

## Careers
- Public relations specialist (SOC 27-3030): median wage $62,410 Topeka, KS, $64,860 KS, $74,750 U.S.; U.S. jobs 1.8% by 2035
- Fundraisers (SOC 13-1131): median wage $60,020 Topeka, KS, $64,820 KS, $72,550 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.5% by 2035
- Editors (SOC 27-3041): median wage $63,560 Topeka, KS, $61,920 KS, $77,920 U.S.; U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).