Mathematics at Loyola University New Orleans

A bachelor's in mathematics from Loyola comes with an estimated debt load of $21,750—higher than what's typical for math programs in Louisiana, where the median sits at $15,000. When compared against first-year earnings that peer programs in the state suggest land around $44,136, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio just under 0.5. That's manageable territory, though not exceptional given that math degrees generally produce stronger financial returns than this.

The earnings picture itself reveals something important: similar Louisiana programs cluster tightly in the low-to-mid $40,000s, trailing the national median for math degrees by roughly $4,600. Tulane's graduates, by contrast, start nearly $12,000 higher, suggesting location and institutional selectivity matter considerably in this field. For a private university charging private tuition, Loyola's outcomes appear to track closely with Louisiana's public universities rather than commanding a premium.

The bottom line: mathematics remains a solid undergraduate major with clear career pathways, but the financial case here hinges entirely on whether your student values Loyola's specific environment—smaller classes, urban New Orleans, Jesuit education—enough to justify both the higher debt and earnings that don't differentiate from LSU or UL Lafayette. If they're purely focused on return on investment, the in-state publics offer similar earning potential at lower cost. If they thrive in Loyola's particular setting, the debt burden remains reasonable enough not to derail early career finances.