Applied Mathematics: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 17 reporting college programs.
$115,629 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Vanderbilt University$216,4062University of Washington-Seattle Campus$149,2093Southern Methodist University$144,7614Johns Hopkins University$144,4295North Carolina State University at Raleigh$141,1316Stevens Institute of Technology$134,8867The University of Texas at Dallas$132,3838University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$123,3699The University of Texas at Austin$115,62910Stony Brook University$115,518Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityMaster's Degree | Nashville, TN | $216,406 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,846 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $149,209 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist UniversityMaster's Degree | Dallas, TX | $144,761 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,892 |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $144,429 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $141,131 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 6 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $134,886 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,346 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at DallasMaster's Degree | Richardson, TX | $132,383 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,267 |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $123,369 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,778 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at AustinMaster's Degree | Austin, TX | $115,629 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,857 |
| 10 | Stony Brook UniversityMaster's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $115,518 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,784 |
| 11 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteMaster's Degree | Troy, NY | $114,450 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,228 |
| 12 | Ohio State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Columbus, OH | $107,934 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,339 |
| 13 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $106,697 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 14 | DePaul UniversityMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $101,965 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,902 |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $99,043 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 16 | California State University, Long BeachMaster's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $94,256 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,440 |
| 17 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $91,400 | Not available | Baseline needed | $25,648 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.