Median Earnings (1yr)
$48,084
47th percentile
60th percentile in Mississippi
Median Debt
$22,050
3% above national median

Analysis

Mississippi State's mathematics program produces graduates earning right around $48,000 their first year—essentially matching both the national median and the state median for math degrees. The $22,050 in typical debt translates to a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could reasonably pay off loans within a few years. While these numbers don't suggest exceptional performance, they represent solid, middle-of-the-pack outcomes for a math degree.

The real caution here is the sample size: with fewer than 30 recent graduates in the dataset, these figures could shift considerably with just a few outliers. Small programs can offer advantages like closer faculty relationships, but the limited data makes it harder to predict what your student will actually experience. The 60th percentile ranking within Mississippi suggests the program performs slightly better than most in-state alternatives, though with only 15 programs statewide and missing comparison data, that context is thin.

For families prioritizing affordability and proven job outcomes, this program checks the essential boxes—reasonable debt and near-median earnings. Just recognize you're working with limited information about where graduates actually land, and the lack of standout earnings growth data means this is more about getting a solid foundation in mathematics than accessing a high-performing program with proven career acceleration.

Where Mississippi State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all mathematics bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Mississippi State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Mathematics bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State$9,815$48,084—$22,0500.46
Duke UniversityDurham$65,805$121,088$99,927$13,0000.11
Tufts UniversityMedford$67,844$110,512—$17,7500.16
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge$60,156$109,288$180,882$10,0030.09
Dartmouth CollegeHanover$65,739$108,255$124,017$11,6170.11
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$63,946$103,812$125,955$10,0000.10
National Median—$48,772—$21,5000.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mathematics graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematicians

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other

All mathematical scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Mississippi State University, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.