Mathematics at Paine College

Based on comparable mathematics programs in Georgia, Paine College graduates can expect first-year earnings around $44,400—roughly aligned with the state median but about $4,300 below the national benchmark. The estimated $21,750 in debt translates to a manageable half-year's salary, which is reasonable for a bachelor's degree. However, with 71% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are stretching limited resources, making that national earnings gap more consequential than it might appear on paper.

The challenge is that we're working with estimates rather than actual outcomes from Paine's program, so there's inherent uncertainty about how these specific graduates fare. Similar programs across Georgia show significant variation—from UGA's $47,000+ to Georgia Southern's $35,500—suggesting that institutional differences matter. Mathematics degrees typically offer strong long-term earnings growth, but starting below the national median means playing catch-up from day one.

For families weighing this investment, the debt load itself isn't alarming, but the earnings estimate suggests graduates may need to be strategic about their first jobs to match peers from larger Georgia programs. If your student has compelling reasons to attend Paine—strong community, specific support systems, or geographic necessity—the financial picture isn't prohibitive. But if choosing purely on return potential, you'd want confidence that Paine's specific outcomes actually match or exceed these state-level estimates.