Mathematics at McPherson College

A math degree carrying $21,750 in debt—roughly half a year's first-year salary—looks manageable on paper, but these figures come entirely from peer programs nationally, not actual McPherson College graduates. With only 84 students walking across the stage in a typical year and an 84% admission rate, this is a small program at a selective but not elite institution, making it difficult to know whether graduates actually match the national median of $48,772 that similar programs produce.

Kansas math programs show considerable variation in outcomes. The University of Kansas reports actual first-year earnings of $48,726, while Kansas State sits at $43,067—a $5,600 difference that translates to real money when you're managing student loans. McPherson's estimated figures land near the top of this range, but without knowing whether graduates actually secure quantitative roles in Kansas City or Wichita versus staying local in a town of 13,000, the projection carries meaningful uncertainty.

The debt load appears reasonable relative to typical math graduate earnings, assuming those earnings materialize. But for a program this small, individual outcomes matter more than medians—one graduate landing a data analyst position and another struggling to find teaching work will have vastly different experiences. Visit McPherson's career placement office and ask specifically where recent math graduates ended up working and in what roles before committing.