Mathematics at Washington University in St Louis

Washington University math graduates start at $79,799—outearning 95% of math majors both nationally and within Missouri. To put that in perspective, they're making $27,000 more than graduates from Mizzou's well-regarded program and nearly $32,000 above the state median. With only $18,700 in debt (a 0.23 ratio), students are earning roughly four times their debt load in year one, which represents genuinely strong economics for a bachelor's degree.

The caveat matters here: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so one or two students landing elite quant finance or tech roles could skew these numbers substantially. WashU's 1530 average SAT and 12% admission rate tell you this is already a highly selective environment—the outcomes may reflect the caliber of student as much as the program itself. That said, the debt figure is modest and consistent across the board, suggesting financial aid works reasonably well even at this expensive private institution.

For families who can manage WashU's sticker price or qualify for their need-based aid, the risk-reward looks favorable. The small sample means you shouldn't bank on these exact figures, but the margin above other Missouri schools is wide enough that even with some variation, this program likely delivers strong value for students targeting quantitative careers.