Mathematics: University of Chicago vs University of Iowa
Head-to-Head
| University of Chicago | University of Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 4.5x | 15.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 5.1x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $267,756 | $43,856 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $100,421 | $60,612 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $1,206K | $675K |
| Median Debt | $12,000 | $21,000 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 1.4 months | 4.2 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 56/100 | 64/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.8% | 84.7% |
Both programs have very high AI automation risk (65% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Mathematics graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Mathematics graduates.
| University of Chicago | University of Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $267,756 | $43,856 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $267,756 | $131,708 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $1,206K | $675K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 4.5x | 15.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 5.1x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +46% | +23% |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Mathematics (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| University of Chicago | University of Iowa | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $1,301K | $1,206K | $910K | $700K | $675K | $580K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 4.9x | 4.5x | 3.4x | 16.0x | 15.4x | 13.2x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 59 | 56 | 47 | 67 | 64 | 56 |
For the full AI analysis of Mathematics career paths, see the University of Chicago or University of Iowa program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Mathematics graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Mathematics graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural sciences managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | 50% |
| Mathematicians | $121,680 | 100 | -0.7% | 100% |
| Data scientists | $112,590 | 23,400 | +33.5% | 64% |
| Statisticians | $103,300 | 2,000 | +8.5% | 66% |
| Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary | $79,350 | 4,400 | +2.3% | 54% |
| Mathematical science occupations, all other | $71,490 | 300 | +4.0% | 87% |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | 33% |