Analysis
USC's mathematics program carries an extraordinarily low debt burden of just $2,750—ranking better than 95% of programs nationally—but the estimated first-year earnings of $38,449 fall noticeably short of both the national median ($48,772) and what top California programs report. Cal Poly grads start above $53,000, while UC Berkeley and UCSB graduates earn in the mid-$40,000s, suggesting USC's mathematics outcomes may lag behind peer institutions despite its elite 10% acceptance rate and 1501 average SAT.
The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.07 looks exceptional on paper, but this reflects USC's institutional aid structure more than program strength. Mathematics graduates from comparable programs in California typically earn around this $38,000 figure, which points to either graduates pursuing lower-paying roles initially or geographic salary differences that affect all California programs. For a school charging premium tuition, these numbers warrant scrutiny—you'd expect graduates from such a selective institution to outperform rather than match the state average.
The low debt makes this a less risky investment than many mathematics programs, but the earnings gap matters. If your child is considering USC for mathematics specifically, dig into actual graduate outcomes directly from the department. The suppressed data here means we're working with state-wide estimates, and at a school of USC's caliber, actual results could differ significantly—hopefully upward.
Where University of Southern California Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all mathematics bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in California
Mathematics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (67 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles | $68,237 | $38,449* | — | $2,750 | — |
 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo | $11,075 | $53,136* | $65,655 | $16,718 | 0.31 |
 University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla | $15,265 | $52,339* | $56,452 | $16,250 | 0.31 |
 Pomona CollegeClaremont | $62,326 | $50,712* | — | — | — |
 University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley | $14,850 | $46,674* | — | $20,500 | 0.44 |
 University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara | $14,965 | $46,447* | $64,574 | $17,000 | 0.37 |
| National Median | — | $48,772* | — | $21,500 | 0.44 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with mathematics graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Clinical Research Coordinators
Water Resource Specialists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
Clinical Data Managers
Mathematicians
Statisticians
Biostatisticians
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Southern California, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.