Mathematics at Western Oregon University

Based on comparable mathematics programs in Oregon, Western Oregon's estimated debt load of $19,417 is manageable—roughly half of what graduates might expect to earn in their first year. That's better than the national median debt for math degrees and suggests the program keeps costs reasonable, which matters given that 40% of students receive Pell grants.

The concern is that first-year earnings hover around $41,000, trailing the national median for math bachelor's degrees by about $7,500. Oregon State's math graduates start closer to $45,000, though Western Oregon beats Portland State and significantly outpaces University of Oregon in these estimates. For a field that typically leads to solid career earnings, starting at $41,000 isn't alarming—many math graduates enter teaching or pursue graduate school—but it does mean the financial payoff may take longer to materialize than at larger research universities.

The key question is what your child plans to do with the degree. If they're headed toward teaching in Oregon or need an affordable path to a math credential before graduate school, the low debt makes this workable. If they're targeting quantitative careers in tech or finance where starting salaries matter, the trajectory suggested by peer programs indicates they might launch from a lower base than graduates of Oregon's flagship universities.