Est. Earnings (1yr)
$89,651
Est. from national median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,082
Est. from national median (6 programs)

Analysis

Purdue's combined mathematics and computer science degree points to strong earning potential, with peer programs nationally producing first-year salaries around $90,000. That figure puts graduates well above most bachelor's-level outcomes and reflects the tech industry's continued appetite for candidates with this dual skillset. The estimated debt load of roughly $24,000 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27—meaning graduates would owe about three months' salary, a manageable starting point for loan repayment.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few graduates to generate school-specific data, you're evaluating Purdue's program based entirely on what similar programs produce elsewhere. Purdue's strong reputation in both engineering and computer science suggests its outcomes likely match or exceed these national figures, but that's an educated guess rather than documented fact. The program's selectivity (50% admission rate, 1342 average SAT) indicates serious academic rigor, which typically correlates with employer recognition and higher starting salaries.

For a field this hot, the financial setup looks reasonable—low debt relative to expected earnings, strong national benchmarks, and a school with name recognition in technical fields. Just understand you're betting on Purdue's brand and curriculum without the safety net of verified graduate outcomes for this specific program.

Where Purdue University-Main Campus Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Mathematics and Computer Science bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$89,651*$24,082*
Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont$66,255$166,573*$23,000*0.14
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge$60,156$126,153**
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$109,843*$23,350*0.21
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara$59,241$91,851*$21,500*0.23
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla$15,265$89,651*$18,887*0.21
National Median$89,651*$23,175*0.26
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mathematics and computer science graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/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

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

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:

Computer Occupations, All Other

All computer occupations 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 Purdue University-Main Campus, approximately 13% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 9 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.