Mathematics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Rose-Hulman math graduates earn nearly $86,000 straight out of school—almost double the national median and well above every other Indiana program except Notre Dame. Among Indiana's math programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, and it dramatically outperforms flagship programs like Purdue ($49,387) and IU-Bloomington ($59,277). The $25,000 median debt produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29, meaning graduates owe less than three months' salary. That's a remarkably clean financial picture for a STEM degree.

The caveat: these figures come from a small cohort (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes vary more than they would at larger programs. Rose-Hulman's selective, engineering-focused environment clearly connects students to high-paying careers, but the 73% admission rate and strong 1389 SAT average suggest this isn't an impossible admit for strong students. Growth to $97,000 by year four shows solid career progression, though the relatively modest 13% increase suggests graduates already start near career-level salaries.

For families comfortable with the small program size and specialized environment, this represents one of Indiana's strongest returns on a math degree. The combination of low debt and exceptional starting salaries makes this a financially sound choice if your child thrives in Rose-Hulman's rigorous technical culture.