Mathematics at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State's mathematics graduates face a difficult start, earning just $32,625 in their first year—roughly $8,000 below the state median and nearly $16,000 below the national average for math majors. This lands the program in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of math programs across the country produce better initial outcomes. Even within Arkansas, where math programs generally earn less than the national norm, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile. For comparison, University of Arkansas math graduates start around $41,000.

The $20,500 debt load is reasonable—slightly below the national median and close to what you'd expect for an in-state public university. Earnings do grow 20% by year four, reaching $39,000, which helps the debt become more manageable over time. However, that still leaves graduates trailing their peers from other Arkansas programs by several thousand dollars annually.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift dramatically with a different cohort. If your child is set on mathematics at Arkansas State, they should investigate whether the low earnings reflect the types of jobs graduates pursue (teaching positions versus actuarial or data science roles) or a weaker alumni network in higher-paying math fields. Given the substantial earnings gap, exploring University of Arkansas or University of Central Arkansas might be worth the extra effort.