Mathematics at Gustavus Adolphus College

A mathematics bachelor's degree with an estimated first-year salary around $57,000 and debt near $23,000 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40—well below the threshold that typically signals financial stress. Based on similar mathematics programs across Minnesota, graduates can expect to service their loans without the burden overwhelming early-career finances. The real validation comes at year four, when actual reported earnings reach $78,245, suggesting strong trajectory for Gustavus Adolphus mathematics graduates specifically.

What makes this program competitive is how it positions against Minnesota's mathematics landscape. While the estimated first-year figure sits right at the state median, it matches outcomes from stronger-reputation programs like Macalester and trails St. Olaf by less than $2,000. Nationally, Minnesota mathematics programs as a group significantly outperform the $48,772 median, and Gustavus Adolphus appears to capture that regional premium. The college's solid academic profile—an average SAT of 1320 and relatively low Pell enrollment—suggests the student body arrives with preparation that translates into employability.

The limitation is that we're working with estimated figures for both debt and initial earnings, drawn from a small pool of comparable Minnesota programs. That year-four earnings number of $78,245 is the one concrete data point anchoring this analysis. If that trajectory holds—and there's no reason to suspect it wouldn't given state patterns—the financial fundamentals look sound for families considering this investment.