Best institutions to study Computational Mathematics
A program that focuses on the application of mathematics to the theory, architecture, and design of computers, computational techniques, and algorithms.
22 U.S. institutions graduated 389 Computational Mathematics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 27.0303, a specialization of Applied Mathematics (CIP 27.03), and leads most directly to the Mathematicians occupation (BLS SOC 15-2021).
About Computational Mathematics programs
A program that focuses on the application of mathematics to the theory, architecture, and design of computers, computational techniques, and algorithms. Includes instruction in computer theory, cybernetics, numerical analysis, algorithm development, binary structures, combinatorics, advanced statistics, and related topics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Computational Mathematics program, part of the Applied Mathematics field, focuses on the application of mathematical principles to computer theory, algorithms, and computational techniques. This program is ideal for students interested in the intersection of mathematics and technology, preparing them for a variety of analytical roles in the tech industry and beyond.
Students in this program will gain core skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Coursework typically includes topics such as numerical analysis, algorithm development, and advanced statistics, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to tackle complex computational challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Computational Mathematics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree365 graduates / yr · 17 institutions94%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship13 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.3%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.3%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Computational Mathematics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 119 |
| 2013 | 186 |
| 2014 | 178 |
| 2015 | 173 |
| 2016 | 218 |
| 2017 | 275 |
| 2018 | 278 |
| 2019 | 261 |
| 2020 | 327 |
| 2021 | 365 |
| 2022 | 385 |
| 2023 | 383 |
| 2024 | 371 |
| 2025 | 389 |
Top 22 institutions for Computational 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 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 103 | 93% | — | $61,188 |
| 2 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 69 | 88% | — | $82,523 |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 31 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 4 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 29 | 67% | $38,899 | — |
| 5 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 6 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 19 | 85% | — | — |
| 7 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 70% | $28,133 | $74,921 |
| 8 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 9 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 14 | 75% | — | — |
| 10 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 96% | $14,644 | $99,193 |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor's | 12 | 68% | — | $55,173 |
| 12 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 86% | — | $53,940 |
| 13 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor's | 9 | 81% | — | — |
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicDoctoral | 7 | 56% | — | — |
| 15 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 77% | $32,060 | — |
| 16 | Simmons University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 72% | $24,848 | — |
| 17 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicDoctoral | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 18 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 38% | — | — |
| 19 | Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
| 20 | McKendree University Lebanon, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 53% | $23,994 | — |
| 21 | Southwestern University Georgetown, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 73% | $25,285 | — |
| 22 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 83% | $25,376 | — |
* 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 16 states
Where Computational Mathematics graduates come from. Each state links to all Applied Mathematics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5 | 143 | University of California - Los Angeles103 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 69 | Ohio State University - Main Campus69 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 38 | Carnegie Mellon University31 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 29 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach29 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 25 | Boston University22 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 19 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus19 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 18 | Rochester Institute of Technology18 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 13 | Brown University13 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion12 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 9 | Michigan State University9 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro7 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2 | Middle Tennessee State University2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 2 | Utah Tech University2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | McKendree University1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Southwestern University1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Marquette University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2021, Mathematicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Computational Mathematics often pursue careers as mathematicians, with a median wage of $121,680. The job outlook indicates little or no change in this field, with approximately 100 annual openings. While most positions require a master's degree, the program also prepares students for various roles in data science and related fields.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 27.0303
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 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 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 and Applied MathematicsCIP 27.0304815 graduates / yr45 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 degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Computational Mathematics.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and problem-solving, among others.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a mathematician, data scientist, or in various mathematical science occupations.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is stable, with little or no change expected and about 100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Computational Mathematics?+
Computational Mathematics is CIP 27.0303 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 mathematics to the theory, architecture, and design of computers, computational techniques, and algorithms. Includes instruction in computer theory, cybernetics, numerical analysis, algorithm development, binary structures, combinatorics, advanced statistics, and related topics.
How many institutions offer Computational Mathematics programs?+
22 U.S. institutions reported Computational Mathematics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 389 credentials in the year. That is 3.5% of all Applied Mathematics graduates.
How much do Computational Mathematics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Mathematicians occupation, which Computational 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 $74,921 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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