Analysis
Pennsylvania's applied mathematics programs cluster tightly around $58,000 in first-year earnings, and Elizabethtown appears to fall right in line with that state pattern. With estimated debt of $25,421, you're looking at a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning roughly five months of gross pay to cover what's borrowed. That's workable, though the debt figure runs a bit higher than what you'd see at peer programs statewide.
The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates drawn from similar Pennsylvania programs and national patterns for applied mathematics at private colleges. The actual graduate sample from Elizabethtown was too small for the Department of Education to publish, which means we can't confirm whether this specific program performs above or below these comparable benchmarks. What we do know is that applied mathematics generally produces solid returns—the national median sits at $60,930, and the field offers clearer career pathways than many liberal arts degrees.
For a family considering this investment, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but you're buying based on what similar programs deliver rather than Elizabethtown's proven track record in this major. If your student is committed to applied math specifically, ask the school directly about graduate outcomes, employer partnerships, and whether grads land in data science, finance, or engineering roles where the math degree translates to stronger earnings.
Where Elizabethtown College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all applied mathematics bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania
Applied Mathematics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (18 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,842 | $58,358* | — | $25,421* | — | |
| $34,940 | $62,328* | $75,554 | $25,000* | 0.40 | |
| $14,620 | $58,358* | $78,897 | $22,571* | 0.39 | |
| $14,630 | $58,358* | $78,897 | $22,571* | 0.39 | |
| $21,524 | $58,358* | $78,897 | $22,571* | 0.39 | |
| National Median | — | $60,930* | — | $21,393* | 0.35 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with applied mathematics graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Clinical Research Coordinators
Water Resource Specialists
Actuaries
Economists
Environmental Economists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
Clinical Data Managers
Mathematicians
Statisticians
Biostatisticians
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Elizabethtown College, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.