Mathematics at University of California-Davis

UC Davis's math program starts graduates at an unusually low salary—just $29,300—that lands in the bottom 5% nationally and below the California median. However, these graduates experience the strongest earnings growth we see, jumping 86% to $54,406 by year four, which closes the gap significantly. This trajectory ranks at the 25th percentile among California math programs, still trailing top UCs like San Diego ($52,339 at year one) and Berkeley ($46,674), but the strong growth pattern suggests graduates who stick it out eventually reach competitive earnings.

The $13,000 median debt is notably lower than both the California average ($16,949) and national average ($21,500), placing graduates in the 5th percentile for debt burden—an important cushion during those challenging early years. The 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio looks concerning initially, but it's the year-four earnings that tell the real story about financial viability.

The question is whether families can weather the first few years of below-market earnings. If your child has financial support or can secure higher-paying opportunities (perhaps through graduate school or specific employers), the combination of low debt and strong mid-term earnings makes this workable. But for students needing immediate income post-graduation, the slow start presents real financial challenges compared to peer UC programs that launch graduates at twice the initial salary.