Applied Mathematics at Evangel University

At $60,930 in estimated first-year earnings, Evangel's applied mathematics program appears positioned near the national median for similar bachelor's programs. That's a solid starting point, though it's worth noting these figures come from national peer programs rather than Evangel's own graduates. With estimated debt of $25,421—slightly above the national median but manageable at a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio—the financial picture seems reasonable if these estimates hold true for Evangel specifically.

The wider Missouri landscape tells a different story. Missouri S&T, the state's flagship technical university, reports actual earnings of just $36,756 for applied math graduates—substantially below what comparable programs produce nationally. This $24,000 gap raises questions about Missouri's tech job market and whether graduates need to leave the state for higher salaries. If your student plans to stay in Springfield or elsewhere in Missouri after graduation, the national estimates may not reflect their actual earning potential.

The practical challenge here is making a decision with borrowed benchmarks. If Evangel's program performs closer to other Missouri schools than to the national average, that debt becomes harder to justify. Given the small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression, ask the school directly about job placement and starting salaries for recent grads—actual outcomes matter more than regional averages when you're signing loan documents.