Mathematics at Bard College at Simon's Rock

A $61,000 first-year salary would put this program squarely in the middle of Massachusetts math programs—if these figures reflected actual Simon's Rock outcomes. Instead, they're estimates based on the state median, masking what's actually happening at this unusual early college. The $19,334 estimated debt appears manageable against that earnings figure, creating a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio that looks reasonable on paper.

But context matters enormously here. Simon's Rock serves students who start college early, often at 16 or 17, creating a fundamentally different educational pathway than traditional four-year programs. The comparison programs producing these estimates—ranging from MIT at $109,000 to state schools near $62,000—reflect conventional math degree outcomes that may not translate to early-entrance graduates entering the workforce or graduate programs younger than typical. The 97% admission rate further signals this isn't a selective program competing directly with the Tufts and Amhersts that dominate Massachusetts math earnings.

Without actual graduate data, you're essentially investing in Simon's Rock's distinctive model—early college entry, small cohorts, and a liberal arts approach—while hoping outcomes land somewhere near the state average. That's a meaningful leap of faith when peer programs show such dramatic variance and when the early-entrance structure could either accelerate career trajectories or complicate them. Request placement data and alumni outcomes directly from the college before committing.