Mathematics at Bethel College-North Newton

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 suggests manageable borrowing, but the full picture here depends heavily on where this math degree actually leads. With both earnings and debt figures drawn from national peer institutions rather than Bethel's own graduates, you're essentially betting that this small Kansas college will deliver outcomes similar to the typical math bachelor's program nationwide—estimated at $48,772 in first-year earnings against roughly $21,750 in debt.

The comparison to Kansas's larger universities is instructive. University of Kansas math graduates earn nearly $49,000, closely matching the national benchmark, while Kansas State graduates start lower at $43,000. Where Bethel falls in this range matters enormously: if graduates trend toward the lower end seen at some Kansas schools, that debt load becomes harder to justify. Math degrees vary widely in marketability depending on the rigor of the program, whether students pursue secondary education or technical fields, and how well the school connects graduates to employers.

Given Bethel's 96% admission rate and limited graduate sample (hence the suppressed data), you're working with considerable uncertainty about outcomes. The ratio looks reasonable on paper, but without knowing whether Bethel's math graduates actually secure quantitative jobs or teaching positions that pay competitively, you're taking on real risk. If your child is seriously considering this program, direct conversations with recent alumni about their job placements would be essential before committing.