Applied Mathematics at Washington University in St Louis

Washington University's applied mathematics program sits in an interesting position among Missouri options. Based on comparable programs nationally, first-year earnings around $61,000 would put this roughly $24,000 ahead of what Missouri S&T—the state's other major technical university—actually reports for its applied math graduates. That's a substantial premium, though it's worth remembering we're comparing an estimate against actual outcomes at peer institutions.

The estimated $25,000 in debt tells a relatively encouraging story for a highly selective private university. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, graduates from similar programs typically manage their loans comfortably—that ratio suggests roughly five months of gross income to cover the debt, which is reasonable for a quantitative field with strong job market demand. The admission profile here (12% acceptance rate, 1530 average SAT) signals you're looking at a school that tends to place graduates into competitive positions, which often translates to earnings that exceed these conservative national medians.

The key caveat: we don't know this program's actual outcomes because the graduate cohort is too small to report publicly. That small size could reflect either a boutique program with exceptional placement or simply limited track record. Given WashU's overall reputation and the strong fundamentals of applied mathematics degrees, the estimated figures likely understate rather than overstate potential outcomes—but you're making this investment without the certainty that comes from seeing this specific program's results.