Mathematics at Earlham College

Based on similar mathematics programs across Indiana, first-year earnings around $59,000 would place this program squarely in the middle of the state's range—well above Purdue's reported $49,000 but nowhere near Rose-Hulman's $86,000 or Notre Dame's $65,000. The estimated debt load of $21,750 is modest enough to keep the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.37, meaning less than four months of gross income would theoretically cover the borrowing.

What peer programs suggest is that Indiana math graduates tend to outperform the national median of $49,000, and if Earlham's outcomes track with state patterns, your child would likely start with a salary that creates reasonable financial breathing room. The difference between this program and Indiana's top performers matters, though—that $25,000 gap between Earlham's likely outcomes and Notre Dame's reported results compounds significantly over a career.

The practical question is whether Earlham's smaller class sizes and liberal arts environment justify potentially lower starting salaries than larger research universities nearby. The debt burden isn't alarming, but without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting that Earlham's mathematics training will produce results consistent with the state average rather than tracking closer to the lower end. Ask the department directly about placement rates and where recent graduates have landed.