Mathematics at Scripps College

A bachelor's in mathematics from a selective liberal arts college carries significant prestige, but the financial picture here warrants scrutiny. Based on comparable mathematics programs across California, first-year earnings around $38,400 land at the state median—substantially below the national median of $48,800 and well behind top California programs like Cal Poly ($53,100) and nearby Pomona ($50,700). The estimated debt of $21,750 isn't catastrophic at a 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio, though it exceeds California's typical debt load for math degrees by nearly $5,000.

The challenge is that Scripps' selectivity (34% admission rate, 1480 SAT) suggests students could likely access programs with stronger early outcomes. Mathematics graduates typically see income growth over time, which could offset these initial figures, but peer programs in California demonstrate that higher starting salaries are achievable elsewhere. The small graduate cohort that led to data suppression may indicate limited departmental focus or few students choosing pure mathematics over other majors at Scripps.

Given the estimates suggest middle-of-the-pack returns for California rather than outcomes befitting a highly selective institution, families should investigate why this program's economics lag behind peer schools. If your child values Scripps' women's college environment and consortium access, understand you're paying a financial premium for those experiences rather than for optimized mathematics career earnings.