Mathematics at Salisbury University

Salisbury University's math program lands right at the national median for earnings but falls short of Maryland's higher benchmarks—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. While $49,125 starting beats the national average by a slim margin, it trails Maryland's state median of $56,443 by over $7,000. That gap matters in a state where flagship programs like UMD-College Park and Johns Hopkins produce math graduates earning $80,000+.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $23,250, graduates carry manageable loans that represent less than half their first-year salary. Strong earnings growth of 24% over four years shows the degree builds value, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest. For a regional university with an 89% acceptance rate, these results are respectable—graduates aren't buried in debt and see decent salary progression.

The tradeoff is clear: you're choosing accessibility and lower debt over the higher earning potential at Maryland's more competitive programs. If your student can gain admission to UMD-College Park (where math majors start around $79,000), that's worth serious consideration despite likely higher costs. But if Salisbury's price tag is significantly lower or admission to top-tier programs isn't realistic, the manageable debt and solid trajectory make this a defensible choice—just understand you're betting on long-term growth rather than immediate earning power.