Mathematics at University of North Carolina Asheville

A mathematics degree from UNC Asheville starts at $33,651—well below both the state median of $40,888 and the national median of $48,772. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, the 25th percentile ranking among North Carolina math programs signals a real concern. Graduates here earn less than three-quarters of their peers at other NC schools, and the gap with top state programs is striking: Duke math grads start at $121,088, UNC Chapel Hill at $53,402, and even NC State at $43,585.

The manageable debt of $24,455 helps soften the blow—it's close to state and national averages for math degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 that's reasonable by liberal arts standards. Earnings do grow 27% by year four, reaching $42,676, which at least approaches the state median. But that still places graduates significantly behind peers who attended other NC public universities for similar or lower tuition costs.

For a student committed to UNC Asheville's small liberal arts environment, understand that this math degree likely won't deliver the earning power typical of the field. If financial return matters, compare carefully with nearby public options like NC State or UNC Charlotte, where math graduates start $10,000+ higher with similar debt levels.