Mathematics at Vassar College

Vassar's math graduates start at $52,000 and jump to $74,000 by year four—a 42% increase that suggests these students are landing roles with genuine career momentum rather than just entry-level positions. While this doesn't match Cornell or RPI's engineering-heavy placement outcomes, it outperforms about 60% of New York math programs despite Vassar's liberal arts focus, where many peers struggle to hit $50,000 even at the four-year mark.

The $19,000 median debt is notably lower than both the state ($20,000) and national ($21,500) benchmarks for math majors, though it's worth noting this reflects Vassar's relatively generous financial aid rather than low sticker prices. At 0.36, the debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly four months of their first-year salary—manageable territory that allows for reasonable repayment timelines. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means fewer than 25 math majors graduate per year, typical for a small liberal arts college, but the data appears consistent over multiple years.

For parents weighing this against larger universities, the tradeoff is clear: Vassar won't deliver the Wall Street or tech giant placement numbers of Cornell, but it provides solid quantitative training with reasonable debt and earnings that grow meaningfully post-graduation. If your student thrives in smaller environments and isn't single-mindedly pursuing quantitative finance, this program justifies its selective admissions standards with real career outcomes.