Best programs to become an insurance underwriter
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for insurance underwriters. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Insurance, Actuarial Science and Risk Management (IPEDS completions).
4 college programs at 185 schools train insurance underwriters, graduating 3,329 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $81,370 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About insurance underwriters
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
Best programs to study to become an insurance underwriter
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurancemain feeder CIP 52.1701 | 1,798 | 54.0% | 69 | $56,988 | $22,500 |
| 2 | CIP 52.1304 | 1,289 | 38.7% | 122 | $62,069 | $23,500 |
| 3 | CIP 52.0215 | 236 | 7.1% | 17 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 4 | CIP 52.0810 | 6 | 0.2% | 2 | $53,572 | $23,672 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American College of Financial Services King of Prussia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 494 | Insurance | — | — | — |
| 2 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 2 feeder programs | 296 | Insurance | 90% | — | 38% |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 2 feeder programs | 159 | Risk Management | 75% | — | 80% |
| 4 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 2 feeder programs | 136 | Insurance | 86% | — | 24% |
| 5 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 92 | Actuarial Science | 93% | — | 9% |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 90 | Insurance | 90% | — | 45% |
| 7 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 79 | Actuarial Science | 83% | — | 50% |
| 8 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · 2 feeder programs | 73 | Actuarial Science | 53% | — | 55% |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 71 | Actuarial Science | 85% | — | 42% |
| 10 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder program | 63 | Insurance | 79% | — | 60% |
| 11 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 57 | Insurance | 71% | — | 82% |
| 12 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 55 | Actuarial Science | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 13 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · 1 feeder program | 52 | Actuarial Science | 83% | — | 52% |
| 14 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 45 | Insurance | 79% | $34,418 | 89% |
| 15 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 45 | Insurance | 66% | $27,359 | 83% |
| 16 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 45 | Insurance | 69% | — | 93% |
| 17 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 2 feeder programs | 41 | Actuarial Science | 88% | — | 61% |
| 18 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 2 feeder programs | 40 | Insurance | 75% | — | 90% |
| 19 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 38 | Actuarial Science | 83% | — | 33% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 37 | Actuarial Science | 86% | — | 61% |
| 21 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 3 feeder programs | 35 | Insurance | 75% | — | 84% |
| 22 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · 1 feeder program | 35 | Actuarial Science | 67% | — | 87% |
| 23 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Insurance | 75% | — | 78% |
| 24 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 33 | Insurance | 48% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Insurance | 72% | — | 97% |
| 26 | Butler University Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 30 | Risk Management | 80% | $35,696 | 85% |
| 27 | University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 30 | Insurance | 54% | — | 85% |
| 28 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Actuarial Science | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 29 | Drake University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 29 | Actuarial Science | 74% | $28,855 | 64% |
| 30 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 1 feeder program | 28 | Actuarial Science | 72% | — | 48% |
| 31 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 28 | Insurance | 50% | — | 78% |
| 32 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 28 | Risk Management | 66% | $24,175 | 90% |
| 33 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 27 | Actuarial Science | 68% | — | 90% |
| 34 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 27 | Actuarial Science | 76% | $28,888 | 85% |
| 35 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 23 | Insurance | 75% | — | 85% |
| 36 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 23 | Insurance | 33% | — | 90% |
| 37 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 22 | Actuarial Science | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 38 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Insurance | 65% | — | 88% |
| 39 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Actuarial Science | 64% | — | 82% |
| 40 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Actuarial Science | 81% | — | 85% |
| 41 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Actuarial Science | 76% | — | 65% |
| 42 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Insurance | 85% | — | 80% |
| 43 | Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 31% | — | — |
| 44 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 57% | — | 89% |
| 45 | The University of Olivet Olivet, MI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 17 | Insurance | 35% | $21,946 | 83% |
| 46 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Actuarial Science | 78% | — | 40% |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 46% | — | 87% |
| 48 | Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 16 | Actuarial Science | 65% | $24,925 | 84% |
| 49 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 15 | Insurance | 40% | — | — |
| 50 | Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 15 | Actuarial Science | 67% | $20,167 | 59% |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What insurance underwriters earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $78,950 | 5,160 | 1.25× | 14 | 803 |
| Georgiamoderate | $85,980 | 7,160 | 2.16× | 3 | 370 |
| Florida | $78,720 | 7,300 | 1.08× | 10 | 195 |
| Indiana | $77,440 | 2,170 | 1.00× | 14 | 170 |
| New York | $97,450 | 6,900 | 1.05× | 12 | 166 |
| Illinois | $89,620 | — | — | 13 | 161 |
| Wisconsin | $97,370 | 3,110 | 1.56× | 8 | 161 |
| California | $95,320 | 6,580 | 0.53× | 9 | 156 |
| Kansas | $77,070 | 1,230 | 1.26× | 5 | 136 |
| Ohio | $79,260 | 5,110 | 1.36× | 14 | 119 |
| Michigan | $77,380 | 2,590 | 0.87× | 13 | 95 |
| Iowa | $75,160 | 1,490 | 1.41× | 8 | 89 |
| Texas | $78,890 | 9,980 | 1.05× | 7 | 78 |
| Missouri | $80,040 | 2,130 | 1.07× | 5 | 68 |
| South Carolinalimited | $79,570 | 910 | 0.58× | 2 | 65 |
| Minnesota | $80,700 | 2,550 | 1.27× | 5 | 56 |
| Connecticutlimited | $100,690 | 2,010 | 1.75× | 1 | 52 |
| Arizona | $77,740 | 3,360 | 1.53× | 5 | 48 |
| North Carolinamoderate | $77,120 | 3,460 | 1.03× | 3 | 45 |
| Massachusetts | $106,640 | 2,890 | 1.17× | 5 | 44 |
| Nebraskalimited | $75,120 | 1,410 | 2.04× | 1 | 35 |
| Louisianalimited | $76,540 | 1,050 | 0.80× | 2 | 34 |
| Kentuckylimited | $79,830 | 900 | 0.66× | 2 | 32 |
| Mississippilimited | $59,250 | 600 | 0.76× | 1 | 31 |
| Utahlimited | $72,730 | 490 | 0.42× | 1 | 22 |
| Mainemoderate | $95,510 | 520 | 1.20× | 3 | 15 |
| Oklahomalimited | $66,770 | 600 | 0.52× | 1 | 14 |
| Arkansaslimited | $82,130 | 290 | 0.33× | 2 | 12 |
| Tennesseelimited | $78,840 | 1,250 | 0.56× | 1 | 12 |
| Washingtonlimited | $99,400 | 1,740 | 0.72× | 2 | 11 |
| New Jerseymoderate | $96,220 | 3,150 | 1.08× | 4 | 8 |
| Delawarelimited | — | 210 | 0.64× | 1 | 7 |
| Marylandlimited | $92,120 | 1,310 | 0.70× | 2 | 7 |
| District of Columbialimited | $82,070 | — | — | 1 | 5 |
| Virginialimited | $81,870 | 2,470 | 0.89× | 2 | 4 |
| Alabamalimited | $62,220 | 1,540 | 1.08× | 2 | 2 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $84,720 | 250 | 0.74× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standing and value, and condition of property.
- Decline excessive risks.
- Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote rates, or explain company underwriting policies.
- Evaluate possibility of losses due to catastrophe or excessive insurance.
- Review company records to determine amount of insurance in force on single risk or group of closely related risks.
- Decrease value of policy when risk is substandard and specify applicable endorsements or apply rating to ensure safe, profitable distribution of risks, using reference materials.
- Authorize reinsurance of policy when risk is high.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Mathematics2.9
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.0
- Customer and Personal Service3.9
- Mathematics3.3
- Sales and Marketing3.2
- Administrative2.9
- Economics and Accounting2.7
Abilities
- Written Comprehension3.9
- Written Expression3.8
- Inductive Reasoning3.8
- Oral Expression3.6
- Deductive Reasoning3.5
- Oral Comprehension3.5
Core activities
- Getting Information4.8
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Analyzing Data or Information4.4
- Working with Computers4.4
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.3
- Processing Information4.1
How to get in
How to become an insurance underwriter
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 4 majors mapped to Insurance Underwriters4 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 52.0215Risk Management
- 52.0810Financial Risk Management
- 52.1304Actuarial Science
- 52.1701Insurance
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an insurance underwriter?+
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for insurance underwriters. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Insurance, Actuarial Science and Risk Management (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming an insurance underwriter?+
The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Insurance, Actuarial Science and Risk Management (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 4 programs to this job, which together graduate about 3,329 people a year.
How much do insurance underwriters earn?+
The median is $81,370 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $55,530 at the 10th percentile to $145,160 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for insurance underwriters growing?+
BLS projects a -2.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 8,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
185 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 4 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do insurance underwriters work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Underwriter, Life Underwriter, Account Underwriter, Personal Lines Underwriter among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 13-2053.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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