Mathematics at Pacific Lutheran University

The $20,427 debt load here is manageable, sitting just below both state and national medians for mathematics programs. But the earnings picture relies entirely on estimates—Pacific Lutheran didn't report outcomes because too few recent graduates provided employment data, so we're using the Washington state median of $46,585 as a proxy.

Here's what makes interpretation tricky: that state median comes from just six reporting programs, and the range is enormous. Seattle University graduates start at $57,551, while University of Puget Sound graduates average just $37,610—both feed into that $46,585 estimate. Without knowing where PLU actually falls in this spectrum, we can't assess whether that 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio is realistic. The four-year earnings figure of $63,907 is actual data from this program, which suggests solid mid-career growth, but it doesn't tell us much about the critical first-year landing point when loan payments begin.

What we know for certain is the debt is reasonable and the mid-career number is encouraging. What remains unclear is whether PLU's mathematics graduates launch closer to Seattle University's strong outcomes or Puget Sound's weaker ones. Given PLU's 81% admission rate and middling SAT scores, assuming the state median feels optimistic—but without actual data, you're accepting meaningful uncertainty about your child's likely starting salary.