Applied Mathematics at Long Island University

The estimated $25,000 debt load here isn't alarming on its own—it's slightly above the state median but manageable with the first-year earnings similar programs produce in New York. The challenge is that peer Applied Mathematics programs in the state show an enormous range of outcomes. Columbia graduates earn north of $90,000 while Farmingdale graduates start around $44,000. LIU's estimated placement near the state median of $55,000 suggests middle-tier career prospects at a selective but not elite institution.

What makes this harder to evaluate is that both the earnings and debt figures come from comparable programs rather than LIU's actual track record. The 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, but without knowing whether LIU's graduates actually land quantitative analyst roles, data science positions, or less lucrative outcomes, you're making assumptions about career placement that the data can't confirm. Applied Mathematics graduates nationally earn about $61,000, so if LIU follows New York's pattern of slightly lower starting salaries, the program could still deliver decent value.

The safest approach: confirm with LIU's career services what their recent Applied Math graduates actually do after graduation and where they work. If they're consistently placing into finance, tech, or analytics roles in the New York metro area, the estimated numbers probably understate the program's value. If placements are inconsistent or the school can't provide specifics, that's your answer about risk.