Mathematics at Washington State University

A $15,500 debt load for a bachelor's in mathematics is remarkably low—roughly $6,000 below what peer programs in Washington typically carry and well under the $21,500 national median. Based on comparable mathematics programs across Washington state, first-year earnings around $46,500 align with state averages, though they trail private institutions like Seattle University by about $11,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 suggests graduates could realistically pay down their loans within a year or two if they prioritize it, which is a strong financial position for any bachelor's degree.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because actual outcomes for WSU's mathematics program aren't publicly available due to small graduate samples, these estimates draw from similar programs statewide. What we know is that Washington mathematics graduates generally earn near the national median ($48,800), and WSU's accessible admission rate (85%) and land-grant mission suggest they're serving a broad student population. Mathematics degrees historically open doors to diverse career paths—actuarial work, data analysis, software development—where earnings can climb substantially beyond first-year figures.

For parents, the low estimated debt makes this a relatively low-risk investment even with earnings uncertainty. If your student is genuinely drawn to mathematics and plans to leverage the degree in quantitative fields, WSU offers that foundation without the debt burden that would make career flexibility difficult. The unknown is whether this specific cohort performs above or below the state average—something worth asking the department about directly.