North Carolina · Mathematics

Best colleges for Mathematics in North Carolina

Ranked by graduate earnings

Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University at Raleigh are the top bachelor's Mathematics programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Duke University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $121,088, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Mathematics degrees in North Carolina: 97, 72 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 North Carolina colleges offer Mathematics and award 570 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand and…

Institutions
39
offering CIP 27.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
570
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$40,888
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,563
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
57%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mathematicians
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$121,0885197%$16,260$13,000
2University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree
$53,4029791%—$14,500
3North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,5857285%—$21,256
4University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,7405969%—$25,000
5Appalachian State University
Boone Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,8564475%—$17,500
6East Carolina University
Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$40,8881963%—$21,500
7Western Carolina University
Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,8021360%—$27,000
8University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$33,6511554%—$24,455
9University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$24,6191356%—$25,661

Colleges awarding the most Mathematics degrees in North Carolina

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public
97$53,402
2North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public
72$43,585
3University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte Public
59$42,740
4Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit
51$121,088
5Appalachian State University
Boone Public
44$40,856
6Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit
38Not reported
7University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington Public
28Not reported
8East Carolina University
Greenville Public
19$40,888
9Davidson College
Davidson Private not-for-profit
18Not reported
10University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville Public
15$33,651
Show the other 29 North Carolina colleges offering Mathematics
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboroPublic13
Western Carolina UniversityCullowheePublic13
Meredith CollegeRaleighPrivate not-for-profit12
Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-SalemPublic11
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboroPublic7
Wingate UniversityWingatePrivate not-for-profit7
Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth CityPublic6
Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoaPrivate not-for-profit6
Elon UniversityElonPrivate not-for-profit5
Brevard CollegeBrevardPrivate not-for-profit4
Campbell UniversityBuies CreekPrivate not-for-profit4
Fayetteville State UniversityFayettevillePublic4
Mars Hill UniversityMars HillPrivate not-for-profit4
North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky MountPrivate not-for-profit4
University of North Carolina at PembrokePembrokePublic4
Queens University of CharlotteCharlottePrivate not-for-profit4
Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling SpringsPrivate not-for-profit3
High Point UniversityHigh PointPrivate not-for-profit3
Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickoryPrivate not-for-profit3
Greensboro CollegeGreensboroPrivate not-for-profit2
North Carolina Central UniversityDurhamPublic2
Barton CollegeWilsonPrivate not-for-profit1
Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmontPrivate not-for-profit1
Chowan UniversityMurfreesboroPrivate not-for-profit1
Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlottePrivate not-for-profit1
Livingstone CollegeSalisburyPrivate not-for-profit1
Methodist UniversityFayettevillePrivate not-for-profit1
University of Mount OliveMount OlivePrivate not-for-profit1
Salem CollegeWinston-SalemPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-0.7%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$121,680
typically Master's degree

Top skills

MathematicsCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive LearningScienceWriting

What Mathematicians earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Data Scientists
$121,270 avg · 11,430 jobs
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,600 avg · 1,870 jobs
Statisticians
$122,490 avg · 1,200 jobs
Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other
$110,130

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Mathematics programs in North Carolina.

Which North Carolina colleges award the most Mathematics degrees?+

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (97 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (72 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (59 graduates a year) award the most Mathematics degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 North Carolina colleges offer Mathematics.

What is the best college for Mathematics in North Carolina?+

By graduate earnings, Duke University leads among bachelor's Mathematics programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $121,088, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University at Raleigh follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Mathematics program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Duke University tops the list at $121,088. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

What is the focus of the Mathematics program?+

The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand and…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mathematicians?+

The national job outlook is about -0.7% growth with around 100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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