Mathematics and Statistics at Barnard College

Based on comparable mathematics and statistics programs in New York, Barnard graduates appear to start around $55,490—below what peers at NYU and Fordham report, though in line with the state median. With an estimated $21,250 in debt, the ratio of 0.38 is manageable, meaning roughly five months of gross income to cover borrowing. That's a reasonable starting point, though it's worth noting that the national median for these programs runs about $4,000 higher in first-year earnings.

The challenge is that we're working with estimates derived from just four other New York programs, not actual outcomes for Barnard's mathematics majors. Given the school's 8% admission rate and 1500 average SAT, you might expect earnings closer to what NYU reports ($80,154), but without program-specific data, that remains speculation. The debt load is typical for private institutions and shouldn't be prohibitive, but the earnings picture depends heavily on what Barnard's specific graduates actually do—quantitative finance roles in Manhattan versus graduate school preparation could mean vastly different trajectories.

If your child is considering Barnard for mathematics, press the college for employment outcomes or graduate school placement rates for this major specifically. The estimated debt is workable, but you're essentially betting on a program whose actual financial returns remain hidden by small sample sizes.