Mathematics at University of South Florida

A mathematics degree from USF leaves graduates earning about $4,000 less than the typical Florida math major and nearly $6,000 below the national median—landing in just the 25th percentile nationally. That gap matters: starting at $43,011 puts graduates roughly $8,000 behind peers at University of Central Florida and closer to $7,000 behind those from Florida State or FIU. While the $24,122 debt load is reasonable and the 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, these graduates face a longer climb to financial stability than math majors at peer Florida institutions.

The 9% earnings growth to year four suggests some career progression, but reaching $46,851 still keeps graduates below what their peers earn right out of college elsewhere. For a selective program at a university with a 41% admission rate, these outcomes fall short of what parents might expect from a STEM degree. The concerning national ranking—bottom quartile for earnings—indicates this isn't just about Florida's market or cost of living.

If your child is strong enough to get into USF, they'd likely qualify for one of Florida's better-performing math programs. The data suggests that choice could translate to $5,000-8,000 more in starting salary with similar debt levels, making it worth casting a wider net within the state system.