Mathematics at University of Oregon

University of Oregon's mathematics program starts graduates at an alarming $25,241—barely above poverty level and landing in just the 10th percentile among Oregon math programs. That's $16,000 below the state median and less than half the national benchmark. While the debt load is relatively manageable at $15,475, that still means graduates are spending more than half their first-year earnings on loan payments before living expenses.

The saving grace here is explosive earnings growth: by year four, median pay jumps to $62,817, well above both state and national medians. This 149% increase suggests graduates are finding their footing, possibly moving into analytics, tech, or quantitative roles that value the degree but take time to access. Oregon State's math graduates start at $45,204—nearly double UO's first-year figure—which raises questions about recruitment pipelines, alumni networks, or program structure differences.

For families, this creates a genuine dilemma. If your student can weather extremely tight finances for 2-3 years (likely requiring parental support or side work), the long-term outcome is solid. But if they need to be self-sufficient immediately after graduation, this program's delayed payoff could force difficult choices about loan deferment or career compromises. The moderate sample size provides reasonable confidence in these numbers, but they reflect recent graduates' experiences—not a guarantee.