Mathematics at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD's math program launches graduates into the top tier of earnings, with first-year median income of $79,129—62% above the national average for math majors and ranking in the 95th percentile nationwide. Within Maryland, only Johns Hopkins produces higher-earning math graduates, and UMD's median sits 40% above the state average. At $19,500 in debt—yielding a 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio—graduates owe less than three months of their first year's salary.

The earnings trajectory looks solid, climbing to $91,552 by year four (16% growth), which suggests graduates are finding strong career progression in fields like data science, actuarial work, or tech. That $79K starting salary puts these graduates well ahead of most humanities and social science majors from day one, making the relatively modest debt load easy to manage. The moderate sample size means these numbers reflect real outcomes, not outliers.

For parents worried about math being "too theoretical," this data tells a different story. UMD's combination of rigorous academics (1463 average SAT) and proximity to Washington-Baltimore employers translates into immediate market value. Unless your child has admission to Johns Hopkins, this is likely the best mathematics ROI in Maryland—and one of the best nationally.