CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Santa Barbara, California

Is Applied Mathematics at University of California-Santa Barbara worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 1.9 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$67,140
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$117,466
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$11,567
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$71k (likely $71k – $83k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$78k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
1.9 years (likely 1.6–2.3)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
$488k (likely $374k – $610k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$1.39M (likely $1.13M – $1.72M)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
84%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Applied Mathematics at other schools

🔭 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward math & physical science majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • AP Chemistry

IB Higher Level

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
  • Physics HL or Chemistry HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Applied Mathematics at other schools in California