Applied Mathematics at Elon University

A debt load of $25,421 may seem manageable until you compare it to what other Applied Mathematics programs in North Carolina deliver. Similar programs across the state typically produce first-year earnings around $75,105—nearly $14,000 more than the $60,930 figure derived from national peers for Elon. That's not a trivial gap. While a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 sits comfortably below the warning threshold, you're looking at roughly $282 in monthly debt payments against starting salaries that appear to lag behind what's typical for North Carolina math graduates.

The challenge here is that we're working with estimates pulled from national comparables rather than actual outcomes from Elon's program, which means there's real uncertainty about what this specific credential produces. What we do know: North Carolina's strong quantitative job market typically rewards Applied Mathematics graduates well, yet this program's estimated earnings sit at the national median rather than capturing that regional advantage. For a private institution charging enough to generate $25,000+ in debt, you'd hope to see stronger earning potential—or at least evidence that graduates are matching their in-state peers.

Before committing, press the school for actual placement data and starting salaries from recent graduates. The estimates suggest acceptable but not exceptional value, and you need concrete evidence that Elon's program specifically delivers outcomes worth the investment over lower-debt alternatives in the state.