Mathematics at Westmont College

A mathematics degree from Westmont—a selective liberal arts college in Santa Barbara—carries an estimated debt load of $21,750, which aligns closely with national norms but runs about $5,000 above what similar California programs typically require. The first-year earnings estimate of $38,449, drawn from peer programs across the state, sits considerably below the national median of $48,772 for math majors. That $10,000 gap matters when you're facing debt payments, though the 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio itself remains manageable by standard measures.

What complicates the picture is how this compares to top California math programs. UC schools and Cal Poly graduates start around $46,000-$53,000—figures that reflect both the strength of those programs and California's competitive STEM job market. Westmont's small size (which leads to the data suppression here) means personalized instruction and tight-knit community, but similar programs statewide suggest those advantages don't translate into equivalent early earnings. The selective admissions (1367 average SAT) indicate strong students, yet the financial outcomes appear more modest.

For families considering Westmont specifically for math, understand you're making a bet on factors these estimates can't capture—perhaps graduate school preparation, mentorship quality, or career paths beyond immediate earnings. The debt level won't crush your child, but they'll likely start behind peers from larger California universities, at least in year one.