Mathematics at Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

With estimated first-year earnings around $62,000 and debt under $20,000, this math degree appears positioned squarely in the middle of Massachusetts' range—well above the national median but notably below what graduates earn from the state's top programs. Similar mathematics programs at Massachusetts schools suggest a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, meaning graduates would owe roughly one-third of their first-year salary, which compares favorably to many undergraduate degrees.

The gap between Wheaton's estimated outcomes and programs at MIT ($109,000) or Amherst ($78,500) is substantial, though those schools draw from different applicant pools and often lead to different career paths. What matters more practically: peer programs in Massachusetts suggest earnings that would make the debt manageable on a typical repayment plan, with monthly payments consuming roughly 10-15% of take-home pay rather than the more burdensome 20%+ seen in weaker programs.

The challenge is that these figures come from comparable programs statewide, not Wheaton's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program delivers similar results. For a parent evaluating a roughly $20,000 debt load, the key question is whether your child's post-graduation plans align with the technical or finance roles that drive higher mathematics earnings, or whether they're heading toward teaching or nonprofit work where actual salaries might fall short of these estimates.