Applied Mathematics at University of California-San Diego

UC San Diego's applied mathematics graduates face a difficult first year, earning just $42,859—well below the national median of $60,930 and landing in the bottom quarter of California programs. Compare this to UCLA ($61,188) or even UC Davis ($53,940), and the gap is stark. For a selective UC campus (25% admission rate), these initial outcomes are surprisingly weak. However, the 61% earnings jump to $69,079 by year four tells a different story: graduates who push through those early years eventually reach competitive salaries that exceed both state and national medians.

The moderate debt load of $15,516 keeps this program from being a financial disaster. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, graduates aren't drowning in payments even during that tough first year. The question for parents is whether their student can weather lower early earnings—perhaps living at home or taking less ideal positions—while building the skills or credentials that unlock better opportunities. This pattern suggests many graduates may be pursuing graduate education, changing fields, or starting in lower-paying roles before transitioning into higher-value work.

If your child needs strong immediate earnings to service debt or achieve financial independence, this program lags behind peer UCs. But for families who can provide runway during those first years, the eventual trajectory looks solid.