Mathematics at University of Rochester

A math degree from the University of Rochester produces surprisingly modest returns given the school's selectivity. With first-year earnings of $45,426, graduates earn roughly $3,300 less than the national median for math majors and fall below even New York's state median. Among New York's 83 math programs, this ranks only at the 40th percentile—meaning six in ten peer programs produce better outcomes. The gap becomes more striking when you compare it to other selective New York institutions: Cornell math grads earn nearly double, while even mid-tier programs like St. Lawrence deliver 28% higher starting salaries.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,500, creating a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that's cold comfort when the earnings themselves lag behind. For a school with a 36% admission rate and 1480 average SAT, you'd expect outcomes closer to the top quartile nationally, not languishing below the median. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift year to year, but the pattern is concerning enough to investigate further.

If your child is weighing Rochester's math program, ask hard questions about career support and whether graduates are channeling into lower-paying teaching roles versus higher-earning tech or finance positions. At this price point, you should expect outcomes that at least match the state average.