Mathematics at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's mathematics program punches well above its weight in the California market. While the state median for math bachelor's graduates sits at just $38,449, Cal Poly grads start at $53,136—outearning 80% of California math programs and even exceeding highly selective UC campuses like Berkeley and Santa Barbara. The program trails only UC San Diego among major California institutions tracked in this data.

The financial fundamentals look equally strong. With typical debt of $16,718 against first-year earnings over $53,000, graduates face a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning they owe less than four months of their starting salary. Earnings grow solidly to $65,655 by year four, a 24% increase that suggests graduates are building marketable quantitative skills. Importantly, this performance comes at a school with a 30% admission rate, making it accessible compared to the ultra-selective private colleges that dominate most program rankings.

For families weighing the cost of a Cal Poly math degree, the numbers point clearly toward good value. You're getting outcomes that rival UC Berkeley at a more attainable admissions threshold and with below-average debt burden. The moderate sample size means individual results will vary, but the program's consistent position near the top of the California market provides reassurance that graduates are well-prepared for the job market.