Applied Mathematics at Bentley University

A moderately selective private university in Massachusetts charging students an estimated $25,000 in debt for earnings around $61,000 raises immediate questions, especially when peer programs in the same state show dramatically different outcomes. Harvard and Wentworth graduates in applied mathematics earn $114,000 and $82,000 respectively—the state median sits at $98,000. While Bentley's figures are estimates based on national benchmarks rather than its own graduates' actual outcomes, that $37,000 gap between estimated earnings here and the state median is striking for a school with a 1340 average SAT and strong selectivity.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 appears manageable on paper, particularly compared to many undergraduate programs. But this masks the real concern: comparable programs in Massachusetts typically produce earnings that would make even higher debt loads more sustainable. Similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $61,000, which positions this estimate right at the median—adequate, but unremarkable for a $70,000+ annual tuition school. The question becomes whether Bentley's business-focused environment and Boston proximity create advantages that aren't captured in these peer-based estimates, or whether students would be better served by Massachusetts programs with proven track records of substantially higher earnings in this field.

Without actual outcomes data for Bentley's applied math program specifically, you're essentially betting on the university's broader reputation translating to results that exceed what similar programs nationally deliver. That's a significant leap of faith when in-state alternatives show concrete evidence of six-figure earning potential.