Compare 18 Applied Mathematics. programs in the West. Average earnings: $69,531.
With top graduates earning $120,626, Applied Mathematics stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $50K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
UC Berkeley's Applied Mathematics program leads with graduates earning $120,626, while University of Washington-Seattle follows at $106,923. Even Stanford, despite its 3.9% acceptance rate, produces graduates earning $97,071—demonstrating that program outcomes don't always align with institutional selectivity.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 1.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making top-tier outcomes genuinely affordable.
Highest program earnings: $120,626
Strong outcomes with 59.7% acceptance
1.8% payment burden | Excellent
6.4% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $120,626 | 326 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $106,923 | 64 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #3 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $97,071 | 39 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Good |
| #4 | $86,227 | 107 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Good | |
| #5 | $81,414 | 345 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Good | |
| #6 | Colorado School Of MinesPublic | $76,575 | 25 | $23,000 | Excellent | $53,505 | Challenging |
| #7 | $76,162 | 67 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Good | |
| #8 | $72,484 | 114 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | |
| #9 | University Of IdahoPublic | $69,633 | 19 | $21,982 | Excellent | $21,162 | Manageable |
| #10 | $69,079 | 141 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $65,623 | 31 | $16,144 | Excellent | $18,376 | Good | |
| #12 | $61,516 | 69 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | High | |
| #13 | $59,019 | 39 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $58,263 | 62 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | |
| #15 | University Of PortlandPrivate | $53,917 | 34 | $21,370 | Good | $57,555 | High |
| #16 | Boise State UniversityPublic | $39,369 | 17 | $20,500 | Manageable | $18,968 | High |
| #17 | $36,141 | 15 | $18,500 | Challenging | $23,123 | High | |
| #18 | $21,508 | 31 | $15,000 | High | $25,565 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
