Mathematics at Indiana State University

Something unusual happens with Indiana State's mathematics program: similar programs in Indiana suggest starting earnings around $58,764, yet by year four, graduates at this specific institution are earning $45,954—a backward trajectory that runs counter to typical career progression. This decline raises questions about whether graduates are finding work aligned with their degree or are underemployed relative to their training.

The estimated $22,000 debt load appears manageable in isolation, sitting right at the state median and just above the national benchmark. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 based on those first-year estimates from peer programs, the initial financial picture seems reasonable. But that fourth-year earnings dip changes the calculus considerably, suggesting the return on investment may erode rather than compound over time.

For parents, the key issue is that this program's outcomes diverge from the typical Indiana mathematics trajectory—one where Rose-Hulman and Notre Dame graduates start near $70,000-$86,000, and even Purdue's program launches graduates at $49,000 who presumably grow from there. Without clearer data on what happens to Indiana State's mathematics majors specifically, you're weighing modest debt against an uncertain earnings path that, based on available evidence, moves in the wrong direction after graduation.