Applied Mathematics at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

This program faces an unusual challenge: while NC State is a selective STEM institution, the estimated earnings of $60,930 suggest this Applied Mathematics degree lags significantly behind what similar programs produce in North Carolina. UNC-Chapel Hill's Applied Math graduates, for instance, earn $75,105 in their first year—about $14,000 more annually. That's a meaningful gap when you're considering a selective university with strong STEM credentials.

The debt load of $21,976 sits near the national median for Applied Math programs, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36. This means students would need roughly 4.3 months of gross income to cover their loans—workable by conventional standards. But here's the rub: that calculation assumes the national earnings estimate reflects what NC State graduates actually earn, and given how far below state benchmarks these figures fall, there's real uncertainty whether this school's program performs closer to the national average or the stronger North Carolina norm.

For anxious parents, the question becomes whether you trust NC State's reputation and STEM focus to deliver outcomes more like its in-state peers, or whether these national estimates signal genuine underperformance. At a 40% admission rate with strong SAT scores, this isn't a school struggling for quality students. If actual outcomes approach the NC median of $75,105, this becomes an excellent value. If they track closer to $60,930, you're paying selective-university tuition for national-average results in a state where competitors demonstrably do better.