Applied Mathematics at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Applied mathematics programs in New York span an enormous range, from Columbia's $91,000 first-year earnings down to SUNY schools in the mid-$40s. Baruch's estimated $55,000 places it squarely in the middle of this distribution, matching the state median exactly. While these figures are based on peer programs rather than Baruch's actual graduates, they align with what you'd expect from a solid public university serving a predominantly middle-class student body (55% receive Pell grants). The estimated $19,000 in debt is notably below both state and national medians, likely reflecting CUNY's affordable tuition structure.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 suggests manageable repayment—roughly 34 cents of debt for every dollar earned in the first year. For context, similar mathematics programs nationally produce a median of $61,000, so the estimated earnings here run about 10% below that benchmark. This gap isn't alarming for a public institution, but it does mean Baruch graduates may be entering more mid-market analyst or operations roles rather than the high-paying finance or tech positions that Columbia or RIT graduates command.

The real question is whether your child can leverage Baruch's Manhattan location and strong business connections to outperform these estimates. Applied math degrees are versatile, and being in New York's financial district could provide internship and networking advantages that raw salary data won't capture. The low debt burden gives graduates flexibility to take strategic early-career positions without financial panic.