Applied Mathematics at Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines' Applied Mathematics graduates start surprisingly low at $50,398—well below the national median of $60,930 for this degree. That's an unusual outcome for a selective engineering school (1403 average SAT) with strong industry connections. The positive spin: earnings surge 52% by year four to $76,575, putting graduates on a solid trajectory. But parents should know this ranks only in the 21st percentile nationally for applied math programs, meaning roughly four out of five comparable programs deliver better initial outcomes.

The state context offers limited insight here—only three Colorado schools report data for this major, so the 60th percentile ranking doesn't mean much. The $21,500 debt load is reasonable and typical for the field, creating a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. Still, the real question is why graduates from a competitive STEM-focused institution aren't commanding higher starting salaries.

The critical caveat: this dataset includes fewer than 30 graduates, so it might not represent typical outcomes. If your child is considering applied math at Mines, dig deeper into specific career paths and ask the department about placement data. The strong earnings growth suggests employers value these graduates once they prove themselves, but the weak start relative to other applied math programs nationwide deserves an honest conversation about whether this particular major—not just this school—is the right fit.