Applied Mathematics at Presbyterian College

Presbyterian College's Applied Mathematics bachelor's carries an estimated $25,421 in debt—modestly above the national median for this field—paired with first-year earnings around $60,930 based on comparable programs nationwide. That 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, with roughly five months of gross income needed to cover the full loan balance. For a small private college in South Carolina, these economics align reasonably well with what similar applied math programs produce.

The earnings estimate tracks closely with what University of South Carolina Aiken reports ($59,965) and the state median, which is reassuring given the limited actual data for PC's program. Applied mathematics typically offers solid quantitative career paths—actuarial work, data analysis, operations research—where bachelor's-level credentials can command respectable starting salaries. The slightly elevated debt reflects Presbyterian's private-college tuition structure, but it's not wildly out of proportion to the field's earning potential.

The fundamental challenge here is uncertainty: with too few graduates to generate reportable data, you're essentially betting that Presbyterian's outcomes will mirror national patterns rather than deviate significantly. If your child thrives in smaller classroom settings (the school's 72% admission rate and modest size suggest accessible faculty), the premium over USC Aiken's public-school pricing might justify itself. But if affordability is paramount and the outcomes look similar, the public option warrants serious consideration as a lower-risk path to the same career doors.