Applied Mathematics at Carroll College

Carroll College's Applied Mathematics program appears positioned to deliver solid returns, though we're working with estimated figures here since the graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. Based on national benchmarks from similar programs, first-year earnings around $61,000 against roughly $25,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe about 42 cents for every dollar earned in that first year.

The estimated debt load runs slightly above the national median for applied math programs ($21,393), which could reflect Carroll's private school tuition structure. However, the earnings estimate matches exactly what applied math graduates nationally achieve at the median, suggesting the program delivers competitive preparation despite the small-town Montana location. For context, top-performing applied math programs nationally push earnings into the low-$70,000s, so there's upside potential depending on career choices and geographic mobility after graduation.

The practical challenge is uncertainty. As Montana's only applied math program in this dataset, and with no reported outcomes from Carroll itself, you're investing based on what similar programs produce nationally rather than what this specific school demonstrates. If your child thrives in smaller learning environments and values Carroll's 73% admission rate and strong academic profile (1170 average SAT), the estimated numbers suggest reasonable financial viability—but recognize you're making that call without the hard evidence that larger programs provide.