Mathematics at McNeese State University

A mathematics bachelor's degree that costs $21,500 in debt and produces $44,000 in first-year earnings sounds reasonable on paper—and the 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment. But these figures come from broader patterns across Louisiana math programs and similar institutions, not McNeese's actual graduate outcomes, so there's meaningful uncertainty about what to expect here.

Looking at Louisiana's math landscape provides some grounding. The estimated earnings align with the state median, putting McNeese graduates in the middle of the pack—well below Tulane's $56,000 but comparable to LSU and UL Lafayette. The estimated debt, however, sits above Louisiana's typical $15,000, which could reflect McNeese's student body composition (31% receive Pell grants) or simply the limitations of using national debt patterns as a proxy. Nationally, math degrees typically start around $49,000, suggesting Louisiana programs generally lag behind—though the lower estimated debt here partially offsets that gap.

The practical consideration: math degrees open doors to teaching, actuarial work, data analysis, and graduate study, making them more versatile than their modest starting salaries suggest. If your child plans to stay in Louisiana and the actual costs track close to these estimates, this investment could work. But given the lack of school-specific data, verify current graduation rates and placement outcomes directly with McNeese, particularly for your child's intended career path, before committing.