Applied Mathematics at Ohio University-Main Campus

At $60,930, the estimated first-year earnings for this program track with the national median for applied mathematics bachelor's degrees—but they fall notably short of what Ohio's market typically delivers. Other applied mathematics programs in Ohio report median earnings of $82,523, suggesting a gap of over $20,000 that warrants attention. Ohio State's nearby program hits that higher mark, indicating the state's tech and finance sectors can support stronger outcomes for this degree.

The estimated $21,000 in debt yields a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio, which aligns with conventional wisdom about what constitutes reasonable educational debt. That's the upside. The downside is that these figures come from peer programs nationally rather than Ohio University's specific track record—and given that Ohio's applied mathematics market runs significantly hotter than the national average, you're essentially betting on below-state-average performance. Whether that's due to regional employment patterns in Athens versus Columbus, differences in curriculum focus, or simply the smaller data sample is unclear.

The practical question: are you comfortable with your child likely earning $20,000+ less in their first year than peers from competing Ohio programs, even with manageable debt? If Athens's lower cost of living or other program-specific factors (co-op opportunities, faculty specializations) offset that gap, the math could still work. But don't assume Ohio University will match the state's stronger outcomes without evidence that it does.