Applied Mathematics at Barnard College

With an estimated $25,000 in debt and first-year earnings around $55,000—based on peer programs in New York—this program sits in a financially reasonable zone, though not a spectacular one. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 suggests manageable repayment, and being at an elite liberal arts college with an 8% admission rate, Barnard students likely benefit from networking and credentialing advantages that raw earnings data can't capture. That said, similar programs across New York show enormous variation: Columbia's applied math graduates earn over $90,000 while SUNY schools cluster in the $45,000-$65,000 range. Where Barnard falls within that spectrum for its own graduates remains unknown due to suppressed data.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual because you're potentially paying a significant premium for Barnard's brand and experience. If your daughter would attend with minimal debt—or if the liberal arts environment and New York City location align with her goals—the estimated numbers don't raise red flags. But if you're weighing this against a SUNY option at a fraction of the cost, or against Columbia's demonstrably higher earning outcomes, the lack of program-specific data makes comparison difficult. Applied mathematics is versatile enough that her actual trajectory will depend heavily on whether she pursues grad school, finance, tech, or another path entirely—and Barnard's small program size might offer mentorship benefits that larger programs can't match, even if the immediate earnings don't show it.