Washburn Institute of Technology — ROI, Cost & Payback
Washburn Institute of Technology charges a net price of $8,607/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $34,428. Graduates earn a median $49,774 ten years after entry, $1,414/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 24.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$6,148, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Washburn Institute of Technology's 24.3-year payback ranks #1,103 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 14% of them, and #15 of 57 in Kansas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $8,607/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $34,428 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,774 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,414/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,127 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 24.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Washburn Institute of Technology's own numbers. Net price $8,607 × 4 years = $34,428 total. Median earnings $49,774 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,414 a year of premium. $34,428 ÷ $1,414 = 24.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$6,148. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Washburn Institute of Technology students graduate with?
A median $18,127 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $49,774 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Washburn Institute of Technology students graduate?
68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $34,428 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $50,629 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Washburn Institute of Technology expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?
Its $8,607 net price runs $6,673 below the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, and $26,692 less across the full degree.