Median Earnings (1yr)
$47,277
44th percentile
40th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Debt
$26,500
23% above national median

Analysis

Slippery Rock's mathematics program operates in a crowded Pennsylvania market where it lands squarely in the middle tier—its graduates earn $51,756 four years out, placing it at the 40th percentile statewide and slightly below both national and state medians. That's roughly $17,000 less than what Temple math grads make and nearly $24,000 behind Drexel. For a field where earnings typically vary widely based on career path, these mid-pack results suggest graduates may be landing in teaching or support roles rather than actuarial science or quantitative finance positions.

The bright spot here is debt: at $26,500, it tracks almost exactly with Pennsylvania's median for math programs and sits in the 9th percentile nationally—meaning 91% of comparable programs nationwide leave students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 is manageable, and steady 10% earnings growth through year four indicates graduates are gaining traction in their careers. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably year to year.

For families prioritizing affordability over elite career outcomes, this combination works. Your child graduates with reasonable debt and earnings that cover it comfortably. But if they're aiming for high-paying quantitative roles, the gap between Slippery Rock and top Pennsylvania programs is substantial enough to warrant exploring alternatives—or planning for graduate school to bridge that difference.

Where Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania$47,277$51,756+9%
Villanova University$75,481$84,324+12%
Drexel University$70,313$81,966+17%
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$37,937$63,511+67%
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown$37,937$63,511+67%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Mathematics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (74 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock$10,507$47,277$51,756$26,5000.56
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$75,481$84,324$25,4540.34
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore$62,412$72,656———
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia$60,663$70,313$81,966$30,8990.44
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia$22,082$59,167$54,614$22,5000.38
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh$47,146$49,314$62,639$26,9400.55
National Median—$48,772—$21,5000.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mathematics graduates

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

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

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

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:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other

All mathematical scientists 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 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, approximately 28% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 22 graduates with reported earnings and 30 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.