Mathematics at Southern University and A & M College

A bachelor's degree in mathematics from Southern University carries an estimated $21,498 in debt—higher than the Louisiana median of $15,000 for this major—while earnings based on comparable Louisiana programs suggest around $44,136 in the first year. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 falls within workable territory, but it's worth noting that peer institutions like LSU and UL Lafayette produce similar earnings with potentially less borrowing. The school serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (65%), meaning many families here are already stretching financially.

Mathematics graduates typically have strong long-term prospects, and the estimated first-year earnings align with Louisiana's market for this degree. However, they fall about $4,600 below the national median of $48,772, reflecting Louisiana's lower cost of living but also its more modest salary scales. The real question is whether Southern's program positions graduates for the growth opportunities that make mathematics degrees valuable—actuarial work, data analysis, finance roles—or whether they're competing at a disadvantage against graduates from Tulane (where first-year earnings approach $56,000) for those better-paying positions.

Given the limited actual data available for this specific program, families should dig into placement outcomes and typical career paths for recent Southern mathematics graduates. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable affordability, but understanding where graduates actually land jobs—and at what salaries—matters more than statewide averages when you're deciding whether to borrow over $21,000.