Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $50,398/yr fall 20% below the $62,640 national median for Applied Mathematics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Applied Mathematics programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Applied Mathematics's typical career paths, with 61% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.
At $21,500 in median debt against $50,398 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #18 of 44 Applied Mathematics programs, Colorado School of Mines scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $89,416 show a 77% jump from the $50,398 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.