Mathematics at Columbia College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 suggests this program could be financially manageable—based on comparable bachelor's programs in mathematics nationally, graduates typically see first-year earnings around $48,800 with median debt near $21,750. That's roughly in line with other South Carolina programs in the field, where outcomes cluster in a similar range. The challenge here is that we're working with estimated figures for Columbia College specifically, since too few recent graduates exist to produce reportable data. That small graduate pool itself tells a story about the program's scale.

The institution serves a predominantly open-access mission, with 53% of students receiving Pell grants, which often correlates with students balancing work, family, and education. For families seeking an affordable mathematics degree close to home, the estimated debt load is reasonable—assuming those earnings materialize. However, without actual outcome data, you're betting on national patterns holding true at a school where the mathematics program may look quite different in resources, teaching quality, or employer connections than at larger South Carolina universities like USC or Clemson, which report actual earnings in the high $40,000s.

The practical question: can your student thrive in a small program environment, and does Columbia College's support structure justify the uncertainty? If they need significant academic scaffolding or prefer personalized attention, a smaller program might work. But if they want proven pathways to employment or graduate school, you're accepting more risk than at programs with established track records.