Applied Mathematics at Clarkson University

A bachelor's in applied mathematics from Clarkson carries an estimated $25,421 in debt—higher than both the state and national medians for this degree—while first-year earnings based on comparable New York programs sit around $55,288. That's roughly $9,000 below what similar programs earn nationally, placing this investment in somewhat murky territory. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 isn't alarming on its own, but it matters that you're taking on above-average debt for below-average returns in a field known for solid earning potential.

What complicates the picture further is the wide range among New York's applied math programs. Columbia and RIT graduates start well above $70,000, while SUNY options like Stony Brook and Farmingdale hover in the mid-$40,000s—all with actual reported data. Clarkson's estimated figures land somewhere in the middle, but without concrete outcomes for this specific program, you're making an expensive bet on a school whose math graduates' trajectories remain unclear. The 77% admission rate and modest Pell population suggest Clarkson isn't drawing from the same competitive pool as top performers in the state.

For a technical degree at a private university price point, you'd ideally see clearer evidence of strong placement outcomes. The estimates here don't disqualify Clarkson, but they should prompt hard questions about job placement support, industry connections, and whether comparable SUNY programs might deliver similar results at lower cost.