Applied Mathematics at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Applied Mathematics program posts impressive first-year earnings of $82,523—about $21,600 above the national median—while keeping debt remarkably low at under $15,000. That 0.18 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than two months of their starting salary, one of the better financial profiles you'll find in STEM fields. The national rankings confirm this: 88th percentile for earnings, 89th percentile for low debt (meaning only 11% of programs have less debt).

The one limitation here is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift considerably year to year. It's worth noting that while this program ranks in the 60th percentile within Ohio, that's actually because Ohio State *is* the state median—there simply aren't many Applied Math programs in the state to compare against. The strong national standing matters more here.

For a student genuinely interested in mathematical applications, this combination of strong earning potential and minimal debt burden makes Ohio State a solid bet. The selective admissions (51% acceptance, 1407 average SAT) suggest rigorous academics, and quantitative skills consistently command market premiums. Just understand that the small graduate cohort means the program might be less established than larger engineering or computer science tracks—worth investigating internship pipelines and employer connections during campus visits.