Applied Mathematics at Bethany College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 puts this program in reasonable territory—peer applied mathematics programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $61,000 against roughly $25,000 in debt, meaning graduates could theoretically clear their obligations in less than six months of gross income. That's a manageable burden for a STEM field, though it's worth noting that the national debt benchmark for this degree sits closer to $21,000, so Bethany's students may be borrowing somewhat more than typical.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With admissions data showing 43% of students receiving Pell grants, Bethany serves a population where financial risk matters deeply, yet we're working entirely from estimates based on other programs rather than actual graduate outcomes. Applied mathematics degrees vary enormously in rigor and employer recognition—some lead directly to data science or actuarial roles, others require graduate work to be competitive. Where Bethany's program falls on that spectrum, and whether its graduates match the $61,000 national baseline, simply isn't documented.

For parents, the fundamental question is whether you're comfortable making a $25,000 investment without verified outcomes. The estimated numbers suggest decent value if they hold true, but "if" is doing heavy lifting here. Before committing, demand concrete information: Where did recent graduates actually land jobs? What companies recruit from campus? Those answers matter more than any projection.