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Applied Mathematics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
78 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
79
Optimistic
78
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,105/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market Large (87,000 openings/yr)
ROI 28.8x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 44 Applied Mathematics programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Applied Mathematics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,096K $1,035K $816K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 30.5x 28.8x 22.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.0x 6.6x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 79 78 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,135
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$117,954
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $75,105/yr, edging above the $62,640 national average for Applied Mathematics — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 28.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 61% task exposure — and the 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,135 in median debt against $75,105 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #1 out of 44 programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Applied Mathematics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $75,105 to $117,954 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 19% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 20,556 in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Actuaries $125,770/yr
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
View all 12 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 44 schools offering Applied Mathematics →

Applied Mathematics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($114,279) Brown University ($99,193) Stevens Institute of Technology ($97,700) Northwestern University ($94,684) Columbia University in the City of New York ($91,559) Ohio State University-Main Campus ($82,523) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($82,275) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($82,152)

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer Science ($90,293) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,618) Information Science/Studies ($75,834) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,594) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($70,561) Economics ($65,344) Physics ($62,647) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($56,721)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Applied Mathematics program score?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Applied Mathematics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Applied Mathematics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Applied Mathematics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank so high for Applied Mathematics?
The #1 ranking out of 44 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →