Applied Mathematics at University of the Pacific

The estimated debt burden here—$25,421—stands out immediately when you look at what other California applied math programs typically produce. Peer programs in the state carry a median debt of just $15,133, meaning students here might be borrowing roughly $10,000 more than their counterparts for similar first-year earnings of $56,789. That's a meaningful difference when you're mapping out loan repayments.

The earnings themselves align with state norms but fall short of the national median of $60,930 for applied mathematics bachelor's degrees. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, graduates would be dedicating roughly half their first year's salary to outstanding debt—manageable, but not the financial cushion you'd hope for in a quantitative field that typically commands strong starting salaries. UC Berkeley and USC graduates in this major start around $71,000, though those programs are far more selective. Even UC Davis, with similar accessibility, shows lower typical debt loads.

The core question becomes whether University of the Pacific's smaller program (hence the suppressed data) offers advantages—like personalized attention or specific industry connections—that justify the higher debt estimate. Without concrete outcomes data from this specific program, you're evaluating whether those potential benefits offset borrowing significantly more than students do at comparable California schools for similar early-career results.