Applied Mathematics at College of Saint Benedict

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 on estimated figures suggests reasonable financial footing for a bachelor's in applied mathematics. Similar programs nationally point to first-year earnings around $61,000 against debt of roughly $25,000—numbers that imply graduates could manage loan payments without severe strain, assuming the national patterns hold for this small Minnesota liberal arts college. That ratio sits comfortably below the 1.0 threshold where debt begins to seriously constrain career choices, though it's worth noting the earnings estimate comes from a broad national sample rather than actual outcomes from Saint Benedict's graduates specifically.

Applied mathematics typically opens doors to analytics, actuarial work, or software roles where demand remains strong. The College of Saint Benedict's 91% admission rate and modest SAT average suggest it draws a different student profile than Minnesota's flagship research institutions, but applied math skills translate across institutional tiers when students develop solid quantitative reasoning. The low Pell percentage (19%) indicates a relatively affluent student body, which may correlate with better networking opportunities and family support during job searches.

The core question is whether this school's teaching and placement support can deliver outcomes matching those national benchmarks. With only six Minnesota schools offering applied math programs and none publishing outcome data, you're making this decision somewhat blind. If your student thrives in smaller classroom settings and the college has demonstrated success placing math majors into technical roles, the estimated debt burden appears manageable. Request specific job placement data from the department before committing.