Best institutions to study Mathematics
Compare 1,305 U.S. colleges offering Mathematics by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Mathematics programs report a median of $48,726 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 27.01 and the Mathematicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Mathematics programs
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 establish mathematical properties. This program is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving and wish to apply mathematical principles in various fields, including science, engineering, and economics.
Students in the Mathematics program will develop core skills in critical thinking, active learning, and problem-solving. Coursework typically covers areas such as algebra, geometry, analysis, and topology, equipping students with a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied mathematics.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $121,088 | 51 | 97% | $16,260 | $13,000 |
| 2 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $110,512 | 41 | 94% | $23,570 | $17,750 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $109,288 | 119 | 96% | $11,666 | $10,003 |
| 4 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $108,255 | 50 | 96% | $14,689 | $11,617 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,812 | 55 | 94% | $14,854 | $10,000 |
| 6 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,421 | 195 | 96% | $13,333 | $12,000 |
| 7 | Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,213 | 23 | 95% | $15,454 | — |
| 8 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $88,081 | 44 | 95% | $22,242 | $17,500 |
| 9 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,251 | 91 | 95% | $17,613 | $14,146 |
| 10 | Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,977 | 13 | 78% | $36,775 | $25,000 |
| 11 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,171 | 130 | 94% | $11,888 | $10,859 |
| 12 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,676 | 235 | 93% | — | $21,589 |
| 13 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,196 | 60 | 84% | $28,900 | $24,250 |
| 14 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,799 | 40 | 94% | $14,126 | $18,700 |
| 15 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,530 | 49 | 95% | $14,799 | $12,418 |
| 16 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,129 | 195 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 17 | Amherst College Amherst, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,500 | 38 | 94% | $16,081 | $14,745 |
| 18 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,392 | 103 | 91% | $18,925 | $21,750 |
| 19 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,481 | 41 | 92% | $33,774 | $25,454 |
| 20 | Bentley University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,737 | 1 | 87% | $31,677 | $19,334 |
| 21 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,516 | 24 | 84% | $33,246 | $21,000 |
| 22 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,144 | 36 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,025 |
| 23 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,204 | 14 | 82% | $38,931 | $26,949 |
| 24 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,656 | 43 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 25 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,313 | 18 | 78% | $36,004 | $30,899 |
| 26 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,744 | 328 | 90% | — | $20,500 |
| 27 | Walla Walla University College Place, WA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $67,328 | 2 | 60% | $22,260 | $27,000 |
| 28 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,725 | 30 | 73% | — | $26,190 |
| 29 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,302 | 33 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 30 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,604 | 90 | 89% | $21,956 | $19,750 |
| 31 | Trinity College Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $63,076 | 13 | 84% | $25,245 | — |
| 32 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,761 | 47 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 33 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,247 | 10 | 66% | — | $24,475 |
| 34 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,784 | 65 | 96% | — | $19,500 |
| 35 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,612 | 60 | 75% | — | $21,738 |
| 36 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,494 | 35 | 89% | — | $20,750 |
| 37 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,011 | 371 | 89% | — | $20,500 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,629 | 128 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 39 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,277 | 55 | 80% | — | $22,000 |
| 40 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,167 | 13 | 75% | — | $22,500 |
| 41 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,995 | 37 | 47% | — | $26,069 |
| 42 | St Olaf College Northfield, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,825 | 47 | 84% | $18,124 | $23,000 |
| 43 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,810 | 22 | 80% | — | $20,876 |
| 44 | Indiana University - East Richmond, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,764 | 82 | 40% | — | $22,388 |
| 45 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,481 | 167 | 88% | $29,023 | $19,500 |
| 46 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,238 | 70 | 76% | — | $19,745 |
| 47 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,153 | 189 | 85% | — | $22,095 |
| 48 | St Lawrence University Canton, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,047 | 26 | 79% | $24,100 | $25,000 |
| 49 | Athens State University Athens, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,584 | 10 | — | — | — |
| 50 | Seattle University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,551 | 13 | 76% | $31,900 | $23,281 |
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2021, Mathematicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Mathematics program can pursue various careers, with a median wage of $121,680. The job outlook indicates little or no change in the field, with approximately 100 annual openings. A typical career in this area requires a Master's degree, emphasizing the importance of advanced education in mathematics.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Mathematics
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 27.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 27.01 (Mathematics) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 15-2021 | Mathematiciansprimary |
| 15-2041 | Statisticians |
| 15-2051 | Data Scientists |
| 15-2099 | Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other |
| 25-1022 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Mathematics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
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.
Concentrations within Mathematics
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Mathematics, GeneralCIP 27.0101
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language
- Algebra and Number TheoryCIP 27.0102
A program that focuses on the expression of quantities and their relationships by means of symbols, vectors, matrices, and equations, and the properties of integers
- Analysis and Functional AnalysisCIP 27.0103
A program that focuses on the properties and behavior of equations, multivariate solutions, functions, and dynamic systems
- Geometry/Geometric AnalysisCIP 27.0104
A program that focuses on the properties, measurements, and relationships pertaining to points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids
- Topology and FoundationsCIP 27.0105
A program that focuses on the properties of unaltered geometric configurations under conditions of continuous, multi-directional transformations
- Mathematics, OtherCIP 27.0199
Any program in mathematics not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in the Mathematics program?+
Specializations include General Mathematics, Algebra and Number Theory, Analysis and Functional Analysis, Geometry/Geometric Analysis, and Topology and Foundations.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication.
What is the typical education required for careers in Mathematics?+
Most careers in Mathematics typically require a Master's degree.
What is the job outlook for Mathematics graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 100 annual openings.
How much do Mathematics graduates earn?+
Mathematics graduates report median earnings of $48,726 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Mathematicians occupation pays about $129,260 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Mathematics?+
Mathematics maps to CIP 27.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
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