Mathematics at Missouri Southern State University

Missouri math programs vary dramatically—from Washington University's nearly $80,000 first-year salaries down to $32,000 at UM-St. Louis. Based on comparable programs across Missouri, this bachelor's degree appears to land somewhere in the middle, with estimated first-year earnings around $52,000 and roughly $20,000 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 suggests a manageable financial picture: graduates would owe less than 40% of their first year's salary, well below concerning thresholds.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With only four math programs statewide reporting earnings data to the DOE, we're working with a limited sample that may or may not reflect Missouri Southern's specific outcomes. The school's open admission policy and modest test scores suggest it serves a different student population than flagship universities, which could mean actual outcomes differ from the state median. Math degrees can lead to various career paths—teaching, actuarial work, data analysis, graduate school—and first-year earnings often depend heavily on which direction graduates choose.

Given these estimates, the program looks financially viable if it performs near the state average, but you'll need to dig deeper. Talk to current students and recent graduates about their actual job placements and starting salaries. The math department should be able to share where their graduates land, even if the federal data isn't published. That ground-level intelligence matters more here than statewide averages.