Applied Mathematics at Marquette University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 suggests manageable financial terms, with estimated debt of about $25,000 against first-year earnings near $61,000 based on national benchmarks for applied mathematics bachelor's programs. However, this falls noticeably short of what similar programs in Wisconsin typically produce—the state median sits at $67,000, suggesting Marquette's graduates may be earning roughly $6,000 less annually than their in-state peers. The University of Wisconsin-Stout, for instance, reports first-year earnings of $67,159 for its applied math graduates.

The debt figure also runs higher than both the Wisconsin median ($21,000) and the national median ($21,393), adding about $4,000 in additional borrowing. While the debt remains serviceable on a $60,000+ salary, paying a premium in debt while potentially earning less than state peers creates a tighter financial picture than families might expect from a private university. Applied mathematics graduates typically command strong salaries, but location and employer networks matter significantly in this field.

Given the small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression, treat these estimates cautiously—your child's actual outcomes could vary considerably from these peer-program benchmarks. The financial case appears solid enough on paper, but only if Marquette's career services and employer connections can match what Wisconsin's public universities deliver, since the estimates suggest they're currently trailing state performance.