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Mathematics · Applied Mathematics Rank #18 of 44

Applied Mathematicsat Colorado School of Mines

Graduates earn $50,398/yr in their first year — about 20.0% below the national Applied Mathematics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $856K; scenarios range from $701K to $897K depending on AI disruption.

Golden, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,398
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$856K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
60% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Colorado School of Mines

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.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$701K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple8.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$856K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple10.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$897K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colorado School of Mines's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Applied Mathematics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Actuaries
+21.8% 10-yr growth · 2,400 openings/yr
$125,770/yr
High
3
Mathematicians
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$121,680/yr
Very High
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
6
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Applied Mathematics

How Colorado School of Mines stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
70
DW Score
$114K
1-yr earn
6.5x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
68
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Stevens Institute of Technology
NJ · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
3.0x
ROI
Northwestern University
IL · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Also at Colorado School of Mines

Other top programs at Colorado School of Mines

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado School of Mines, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Applied Mathematics at Colorado School of Mines

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Applied Mathematics at Colorado School of Mines?

A score of 62/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Applied Mathematics field.

Will AI replace Applied Mathematics careers?

With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $701,261 in decade earnings vs $897,159 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Applied Mathematics from Colorado School of Mines?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.