Finance and Financial Management Services at Indiana State University

Indiana State's finance graduates start significantly behind their peers, but the trajectory tells a more promising story. First-year earnings of $46,207 trail the state median by nearly $10,000 and land in just the 16th percentile nationally. Within Indiana's 24 finance programs, this ranks near the bottom quartile. However, that 31% earnings jump to $60,508 by year four closes much of the gap—graduates eventually reach competitive mid-career salaries that match programs like Butler and Purdue.

The debt load of $22,805 is actually below both state and national averages, resulting in a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio. This matters because it cushions the impact of those lower starting salaries. A graduate earning $46,000 with $23,000 in debt faces different financial pressure than one earning the same amount with $30,000-plus borrowed.

The real question is whether your student can weather those first few years. If they're banking on immediate earning power to handle loan payments or living expenses, programs like Notre Dame or Purdue offer stronger launch points. But if they can be patient—perhaps with family support early on or by staying in lower-cost housing—the moderate debt and strong earnings growth make this a financially viable path into finance careers.