Computer Science at Earlham College

A Computer Science degree typically justifies moderate debt, but Earlham's estimated $26,500 burden sits above both the national and state medians for this major—despite peer programs in Indiana suggesting first-year earnings around $68,500. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 isn't alarming on its own, but it means graduates likely start with monthly payments near $300, a meaningful chunk of an early-career tech salary that lags well behind what students earn at Rose-Hulman ($100,000+) or Purdue ($95,000).

The real question is whether Earlham's small liberal arts environment—reflected in that 74% admission rate and modest SAT average—provides networking, internship pipelines, or teaching quality that compensates for weaker salary outcomes. Indiana's tech job market concentrates heavily around Indianapolis and university hubs where larger programs have established employer relationships. Based on comparable programs statewide, Earlham graduates appear to start $6,000-$9,000 behind peers at IU-Bloomington or Taylor, which matters significantly when you're carrying above-average debt.

If your child thrives in small seminar settings and values close faculty mentorship over corporate recruiting events, Earlham might justify the investment. But the limited graduate sample—why these figures are estimates—suggests this isn't a high-volume pipeline into tech roles. Families should confirm whether recent CS graduates secured positions with recognizable employers and whether starting salaries align with these state-level projections before committing.