Mathematics at University of Missouri-St Louis

The first-year earnings here—just under $32,000—rank at the bottom 10th percentile among Missouri math programs, trailing the state median by $20,000. That's a troubling gap in a field where strong starting salaries are normally a key selling point. While earnings do jump substantially by year four to $56,000, even that figure barely catches the Missouri median, and it lags behind what graduates earn at Mizzie-Columbia or Missouri State from day one.

The debt load of $21,000 is reasonable by national standards, but that's cold comfort when first-year earnings are this low. A 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates spend most of their first year simply catching up financially. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers might not represent typical outcomes, or they could reflect graduates pursuing teaching credentials or graduate school rather than immediate full-time work.

If your child is set on a math degree in Missouri, there are clearly stronger options at comparable or lower cost. The dramatic earnings jump from year one to year four suggests delayed career launch rather than program strength. Without knowing why these starting salaries lag so far behind state peers, it's hard to recommend this path over alternatives that deliver better outcomes from the start.