Mathematics at William Penn University

Is $51,422 in first-year earnings worth $21,750 in student debt? For William Penn's mathematics program, that's the question based on what similar Iowa math programs typically produce. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 suggests graduates could reasonably manage their loans—roughly 42 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one. Nationally, math bachelor's programs report a median debt of $21,500, so the estimated burden here aligns with typical outcomes across the country.

What makes these estimates less certain is the gap between Iowa's top programs. University of Iowa mathematics graduates earn over $60,000 their first year, while University of Northern Iowa graduates start around $42,000—a $18,000 spread that matters significantly when you're budgeting loan payments. William Penn's estimated figure lands in the middle, derived from just three Iowa programs, making it harder to predict where your child would actually fall.

The practical challenge: with nearly half of William Penn students receiving Pell grants and an estimated starting salary that's solid but not exceptional, families should plan conservatively. If the actual debt comes in below $22,000 and earnings track near $51,000, the math works. But small variations either direction—a lower-paying first job or additional borrowing—could tighten the budget considerably. Request the school's placement data for recent mathematics graduates to see where they're actually landing.