Mathematics at University of Massachusetts-Boston

Massachusetts math programs show enormous variation in outcomes, and UMass Boston appears to land in the middle of the pack. Based on comparable programs statewide, graduates here can expect to earn around $62,000 in their first year—matching the state median and well above the $49,000 national benchmark for math degrees. The estimated $26,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio, though it's worth noting this sits above both the state median ($19,750) and national median ($21,500) for math programs.

What makes this harder to evaluate is the four-year earnings figure of $55,000—lower than the first-year estimate. This could reflect actual wage patterns for this cohort or simply the uncertainty inherent in working with estimated data rather than reported outcomes. For context, the top Massachusetts programs (MIT, Tufts, Northeastern) produce graduates earning $75,000 to $110,000, but those schools serve very different student populations. UMass Boston's 83% admission rate and 43% Pell grant enrollment suggest it's serving students for whom an affordable public university math degree makes practical sense.

The fundamentals look solid: estimated debt under $30,000 for a field where starting salaries typically exceed $60,000 creates breathing room for loan repayment. If your child can graduate near these debt levels while gaining quantitative skills that translate across industries, this represents a reasonable investment—just recognize you're working with peer program estimates rather than this school's actual track record.