Applied Mathematics at Harvard University

Harvard's applied mathematics degree produces first-year earnings of $114,279—nearly double the national median and well above the $98,216 typical for Massachusetts programs. While the debt figure of $25,421 is estimated from other Harvard programs (the graduate sample here was too small for the DOE to publish actual outcomes), it's modest relative to these earnings: a 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would need just over two months of salary to repay their loans.

The earnings trajectory strengthens the picture, with the median climbing to $166,324 by year four—a 46% increase that reflects the versatility of applied mathematics training across finance, tech, and consulting. Though Harvard's applied math program ranks at the 60th percentile within Massachusetts, this largely reflects the state's concentration of elite institutions; nationally, it sits at the 95th percentile. The comparison to Wentworth's $82,152 shows Harvard's significant earnings advantage, though Wentworth's technical focus likely channels graduates toward different career paths.

The estimation of debt introduces uncertainty, but the scale of the earnings advantage—$53,000 over the national median in year one alone—provides substantial cushion. For families who can navigate Harvard's 3% admission rate, the program's outcomes suggest strong return on investment, even if the exact debt burden for this specific cohort remains unknown.