Mathematics at California State University-Stanislaus

CSU Stanislaus's math program reports first-year earnings of $37,292—below the national median by more than $11,000 and barely edging out California's state median. That 14th percentile national ranking is sobering, though within California specifically, the program lands near the middle of the pack. However, these numbers come from a very small sample (under 30 graduates), which means a few outliers could be skewing the picture significantly in either direction.

The low debt load of $14,737 provides some cushion. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, graduates can realistically pay this off within a few years, even at these earnings levels. The university serves a heavily Pell-eligible population (55%), so keeping debt manageable matters tremendously for students who may lack family financial support. Still, math graduates typically command higher salaries—California's top programs show first-year earnings in the $46,000-$53,000 range, suggesting graduates here may be missing out on better-paying opportunities that a math degree usually opens up.

For families choosing between CSU Stanislaus and other California public universities, the low cost of attendance makes this less risky than the earnings alone suggest. But if your child can get into a UC or competitive Cal Poly program, those alternatives would likely deliver substantially better earning potential without dramatically more debt. The small sample size here means individual outcomes will vary widely—talk to current students about where graduates actually land.