Mathematics at Franklin College

The estimated $21,750 in debt for this mathematics degree aligns closely with what students typically borrow for this major nationally, but the real question is whether Franklin College can deliver the earnings outcomes seen at peer programs across Indiana. Similar mathematics programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $58,764—a solid figure that would make the debt manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37. However, Indiana's math programs show enormous variation, from Rose-Hulman's $86,000 to Purdue's $49,000, and without specific outcomes data from Franklin College itself, it's unclear where this program lands in that spectrum.

The challenge here is that a selective access point like a small liberal arts college may not provide the same recruiting pipelines or industry connections as Indiana's large research universities or specialized technical schools. While the state median suggests reasonable earnings potential, those estimates are drawn from only seven programs—meaning a few strong performers could be skewing the average upward. What matters most is whether Franklin College's mathematics graduates specifically can access the higher-paying positions that justify the investment.

Given the uncertainty, examine Franklin College's mathematics department directly: where do recent graduates actually work, and what starting salaries do employers in those sectors typically offer? Without program-specific outcomes, you're betting that this particular school can match what other Indiana math programs achieve on average.