Applied Mathematics at Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale State's applied mathematics program produces graduates earning $44,430 in their first year—roughly $16,000 below the New York state median and $11,000 less than even Stony Brook, another SUNY institution. While the relatively low debt load of $18,806 softens the blow, this program still lands in the bottom quarter of New York applied math programs by earnings. Among the 32 schools offering this degree in New York, only a handful produce lower salaries, and those numbers put it in just the 12th percentile nationally.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these figures significantly. But even accounting for statistical noise, the gap between Farmingdale's outcomes and peer institutions is substantial. The bright spot is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, which is manageable. However, applied mathematics typically commands strong entry-level salaries across New York, and this program isn't capturing that advantage.

For families considering this program, understand that you're likely trading lower earnings potential for lower tuition costs. If your child is set on applied mathematics and needs an affordable option, the debt load here won't be crushing. But if stronger employment outcomes matter more, the SUNY system offers better alternatives like Albany or Stony Brook that deliver significantly higher returns without dramatically more debt.