Mathematics at Florida Gulf Coast University

A bachelor's in mathematics from Florida Gulf Coast University starts with first-year earnings of $36,114—well below what similar programs across Florida typically produce. Top math programs in the state like UCF and FSU place their graduates at starting salaries above $49,000, suggesting FGCU graduates enter the workforce at a meaningful disadvantage. While estimated debt of $20,050 (based on comparable Florida programs) keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.56, you're still looking at a program that ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings within Florida.

The dramatic 86% earnings growth by year four—jumping to $67,196—tells a more hopeful story. This suggests FGCU math graduates eventually catch up, possibly by pivoting into higher-paying roles after gaining experience or completing additional credentials. But that first year matters: lower starting salaries mean less aggressive student loan repayment, slower retirement savings, and potentially delayed financial milestones.

For a family evaluating this program, the question is whether your child can weather three years of below-market earnings while their peers at other Florida schools start ahead. The program appears to produce capable mathematicians who eventually earn well, but the path gets there more slowly than at competing institutions within the same state system.