Best institutions to study Computational and Applied Mathematics
A program that focuses on the application of a broad range of mathematical and computational methods to modeling, analysis, algorithm development, and simulation for the solution of complex scientific and engineering problems.
45 U.S. institutions graduated 815 Computational and Applied Mathematics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 27.0304, a specialization of Applied Mathematics (CIP 27.03), and leads most directly to the Mathematicians occupation (BLS SOC 15-2021).
About Computational and Applied Mathematics programs
A program that focuses on the application of a broad range of mathematical and computational methods to modeling, analysis, algorithm development, and simulation for the solution of complex scientific and engineering problems. Includes instruction in numerical analysis, discrete mathematics, operations research, optimization, differential equations, statistics, scientific computation, and applications to specific scientific and industrial topics.
See also: 27.0303 - Computational Mathematics., 27.0301 - Applied Mathematics, General.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Computational and Applied Mathematics program, a branch of Applied Mathematics, is designed for students interested in applying mathematical and computational methods to solve complex scientific and engineering problems. This program is ideal for those who enjoy working with numerical analysis, optimization, and algorithms in a variety of real-world contexts.
Students will gain core skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and scientific computation. Coursework typically includes instruction in differential equations, operations research, and statistics, equipping graduates with the knowledge to tackle diverse challenges in various scientific and industrial fields.
Credentials awarded
What Computational and Applied Mathematics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree398 graduates / yr · 17 institutions49%
- Bachelor's degree351 graduates / yr · 28 institutions43%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship38 graduates / yr · 7 institutions4.7%
- Associate's degree26 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Computational and Applied Mathematics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 115 |
| 2013 | 136 |
| 2014 | 181 |
| 2015 | 212 |
| 2016 | 279 |
| 2017 | 384 |
| 2018 | 506 |
| 2019 | 631 |
| 2020 | 874 |
| 2021 | 1,115 |
| 2022 | 917 |
| 2023 | 737 |
| 2024 | 759 |
| 2025 | 815 |
Top 45 institutions for Computational and Applied Mathematics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Harrisburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 176 | 34% | $14,140 | — |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 87 | 92% | $26,873 | $71,622 |
| 3 | Colorado School of Mines Golden, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 67 | 82% | — | $50,398 |
| 4 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster's | 60 | 85% | — | — |
| 5 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 51 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 6 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 48 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 7 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 45 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 8 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 38 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 9 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 34 | 87% | — | — |
| 10 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor's | 34 | 77% | — | — |
| 11 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 57% | $10,199 | $54,697 |
| 12 | Connors State College Warner, OKPublicAssociate's | 19 | 36% | — | — |
| 13 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 70% | $28,133 | $74,921 |
| 14 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicMaster's | 12 | 66% | — | — |
| 15 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicMaster's | 11 | 75% | — | — |
| 16 | Bryant University Smithfield, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 80% | $38,485 | $64,954 |
| 17 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain, CTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 24% | — | — |
| 18 | Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CTPublicBachelor's | 7 | 58% | — | — |
| 19 | Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 69% | $25,896 | — |
| 20 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicMaster's | 6 | 44% | — | — |
| 21 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 6 | 84% | $33,246 | — |
| 22 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 23 | Saint Michael's College Colchester, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 73% | $25,029 | — |
| 24 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WVPublicBachelor's | 4 | 51% | — | — |
| 25 | Daemen University Amherst, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 59% | $16,826 | — |
| 26 | Siena University Loudonville, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 75% | $30,138 | — |
| 27 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 70% | $25,578 | — |
| 28 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CTPublicBachelor's | 2 | 52% | — | — |
| 29 | Louisiana Christian University Pineville, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 44% | $16,971 | — |
| 30 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicDoctoral | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 31 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NYPublicBachelor's | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 32 | New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 59% | $22,158 | — |
| 33 | Wittenberg University Springfield, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 53% | $18,486 | — |
| 34 | Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, ORPublicBachelor's | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 35 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicBachelor's | 2 | 38% | — | — |
| 36 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CAPublicMaster's | 1 | 68% | — | — |
| 37 | Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 45% | $18,986 | — |
| 38 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicMaster's | 1 | 58% | — | — |
| 39 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MNPublicBachelor's | 1 | 45% | — | — |
| 40 | Le Moyne College Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 73% | $20,356 | — |
| 41 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicMaster's | 1 | 37% | — | — |
| 43 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 77% | $32,060 | — |
| 44 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 69% | $19,944 | — |
| 45 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicMaster's | 1 | 52% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Applied Mathematics field (CIP 27.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 21 states
Where Computational and Applied Mathematics graduates come from. Each state links to all Applied Mathematics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2021, Mathematicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Computational and Applied Mathematics program can pursue careers as mathematicians, data scientists, or actuaries, among others. While job growth in the field is projected to be little or no change, there are approximately 100 annual openings, with a median wage of $121,680 for those holding a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 27.0304
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mathematiciansprimary SOC 15-2021 | $126,710 | -0.7% Little or no change | ~100 | Master's degree |
Data Scientists SOC 15-2051 | $120,230 | +33.5% Much faster than average | ~23,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1022 | $79,940 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~4,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Actuaries SOC 15-2011 | $130,000 | +21.8% Much faster than average | ~2,400 | Bachelor's degree |
Statisticians SOC 15-2041 | $105,650 | +8.5% Much faster than average | ~2,000 | Master's degree |
Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other SOC 15-2099 | $81,490 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~300 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Computational and Applied Mathematics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
- Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
Tools and technology used
Other Applied Mathematics specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Applied Mathematics (CIP 27.03).
- Financial MathematicsCIP 27.03055,694 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Applied MathematicsCIP 27.03013,917 graduates / yr224 institutions
- Computational MathematicsCIP 27.0303389 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Applied MathematicsCIP 27.0399221 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Mathematical BiologyCIP 27.0306partial data14 graduates / yr4 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a bachelor's, master's, or even a doctoral degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and scientific computation.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a mathematician, data scientist, or actuary, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Computational and Applied Mathematics?+
Computational and Applied Mathematics is CIP 27.0304 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Applied Mathematics (CIP 27.03). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of a broad range of mathematical and computational methods to modeling, analysis, algorithm development, and simulation for the solution of complex scientific and engineering problems. Includes instruction in numerical analysis, discrete mathematics, operations research, optimization, differential equations, statistics, scientific computation, and applications to specific scientific and industrial topics.
How many institutions offer Computational and Applied Mathematics programs?+
45 U.S. institutions reported Computational and Applied Mathematics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 21 states, awarding 815 credentials in the year. That is 7.4% of all Applied Mathematics graduates.
How much do Computational and Applied Mathematics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Mathematicians occupation, which Computational and Applied Mathematics most directly leads to, pays a median of $126,710 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Applied Mathematics field report median earnings of $64,954 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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