Median Earnings (1yr)
$52,921
67th percentile
60th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$20,500
5% below national median

Analysis

Ohio State's mathematics degree produces graduates earning about $53,000 initially, climbing to nearly $59,000 after four yearsβ€”solid numbers that outpace both the national and Ohio medians by roughly 10%. Among Ohio's 56 math programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it beats most in-state alternatives while maintaining manageable debt of $20,500. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 is quite reasonable for a STEM field, translating to less than five months of gross income.

The 11% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are gaining traction in their careers, whether they're entering data science, actuarial work, or graduate programs in quantitative fields. The moderate sample size indicates this isn't a tiny program, so these outcomes reflect a meaningful pattern rather than a few outliers. At a flagship university with strong name recognition, Ohio State's math graduates have access to robust alumni networks and recruiting pipelines that help explain their above-average positioning.

For in-state students, this represents straightforward value: competitive earnings, reasonable debt, and steady upward trajectory. Out-of-state families would need to weigh whether the higher tuition justifies outcomes that are good but not exceptional compared to what their own state flagships might offer for mathematics.

Where Ohio State University-Main Campus Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Ohio State University-Main Campus$52,921$58,860+11%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology$109,288$180,882+66%
Cornell University$87,251$127,962+47%
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$46,678$60,748+30%
Cleveland State University$41,164$49,718+21%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Mathematics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (56 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$52,921$58,860$20,5000.39
Kent State University at StarkNorth Canton$7,272$54,367β€”$19,2500.35
Kent State University at KentKent$12,846$54,367β€”$19,2500.35
Miami University-OxfordOxford$17,809$49,541β€”$18,8500.38
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$48,914β€”$20,9700.43
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green$14,081$46,678$60,748$24,0000.51
National Medianβ€”$48,772β€”$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 Ohio State University-Main Campus, approximately 19% 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 76 graduates with reported earnings and 93 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.