Mathematics at Barnard College

A math degree from a highly selective liberal arts college comes with an estimated $21,697 in debt—slightly above the state median but manageable at roughly six months of projected first-year earnings. Based on comparable mathematics programs across New York, graduates might expect around $45,880 in their first year, which aligns with the state median but falls notably short of the $48,772 national benchmark. More striking is the gap with top-earning math programs in the state: Cornell and RPI graduates start above $80,000, while even Fordham and NYU produce substantially higher early returns.

This suggests Barnard's mathematics graduates may be pursuing different career paths than their peers at technically-focused institutions—perhaps teaching, graduate school, or roles that value a liberal arts foundation over immediate earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 remains reasonable, meaning the financial burden shouldn't be overwhelming even if early salaries stay modest. For a family paying full freight at Barnard, however, the disconnect between the school's 8% admission rate and these middle-of-the-pack estimated earnings deserves scrutiny.

The takeaway: if your child is drawn to Barnard's educational model and community, the estimated debt load won't trap them. But if mathematics is purely a career investment, understand that peer institutions in New York—particularly those with stronger engineering and finance pipelines—appear to deliver significantly higher early returns, even if we lack this specific program's actual outcomes.