Best institutions to study Mathematics
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language.
1,300 U.S. institutions graduated 23,537 Mathematics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 27.0101, a specialization of Mathematics (CIP 27.01), and leads most directly to the Mathematicians occupation (BLS SOC 15-2021).
About Mathematics programs
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Mathematics program offers a comprehensive exploration of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships through the lens of symbolic logic and language. This general program is designed for students interested in deepening their understanding of mathematical concepts and theories, preparing them for various analytical roles in diverse fields. Students in this program will engage with a range of mathematical disciplines, including algebra, calculus, geometry, and more. It is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving and critical thinking, and who aspire to contribute to advancements in mathematical science or pursue careers in education and research.
Core coursework in the Mathematics program covers essential skills such as critical thinking, reading comprehension, and active learning. Students will gain knowledge in various mathematical areas, including algebra, calculus, and geometry, while also developing competencies in science, writing, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Mathematics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree14,081 graduates / yr · 1,060 institutions60%
- Associate's degree5,354 graduates / yr · 240 institutions23%
- Master's degree2,387 graduates / yr · 282 institutions10%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1,216 graduates / yr · 154 institutions5.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year407 graduates / yr · 17 institutions1.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate50 graduates / yr · 20 institutions0.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years23 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.1%
- Post-master's certificate19 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.1%
Graduates over time
Mathematics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 21,275 |
| 2013 | 22,715 |
| 2014 | 23,378 |
| 2015 | 24,079 |
| 2016 | 24,655 |
| 2017 | 25,283 |
| 2018 | 26,373 |
| 2019 | 26,938 |
| 2020 | 27,468 |
| 2021 | 26,578 |
| 2022 | 25,326 |
| 2023 | 23,731 |
| 2024 | 22,425 |
| 2025 | 23,537 |
Top 50 institutions for 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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 371 | 89% | — | $60,011 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sDoctoral | 328 | 90% | — | $67,744 |
| 3 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 253 | 43% | $34,565 | $51,396 |
| 4 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 235 | 93% | — | $80,676 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 199 | 83% | — | $42,682 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 198 | 85% | — | $48,728 |
| 7 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 195 | 96% | $13,333 | $100,421 |
| 8 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 195 | 89% | — | $79,129 |
| 9 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 189 | 85% | — | $58,153 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 179 | 46% | — | — |
| 11 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 167 | 88% | $29,023 | $58,481 |
| 12 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 162 | 49% | — | — |
| 13 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 154 | 87% | — | $45,924 |
| 14 | Irvine Valley College Irvine, CAPublicAssociate's | 150 | 57% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 149 | 85% | — | $46,585 |
| 16 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 144 | 88% | — | $52,921 |
| 17 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TXPublicAssociate'sMaster'sBachelor's | 144 | 55% | — | — |
| 18 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate's | 140 | 42% | — | — |
| 19 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 137 | 83% | — | $49,387 |
| 20 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 130 | 94% | $11,888 | $83,171 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 128 | 86% | — | $59,629 |
| 22 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 126 | 76% | — | $27,227 |
| 23 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 123 | 93% | — | $46,674 |
| 24 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAssociate's | 121 | 68% | — | — |
| 25 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 119 | 96% | $11,666 | $109,288 |
| 26 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 118 | 94% | — | — |
| 27 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 113 | 91% | — | $46,036 |
| 28 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAssociate's | 113 | 30% | — | — |
| 29 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 111 | 84% | — | $54,953 |
| 30 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 110 | 48% | — | — |
| 31 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 109 | 83% | — | $46,447 |
| 32 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 109 | 65% | — | $54,710 |
| 33 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 106 | 86% | — | $52,339 |
| 34 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 104 | 37% | — | — |
| 35 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 103 | 91% | $18,925 | $76,392 |
| 36 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 102 | 68% | — | $52,729 |
| 37 | Ohlone College Fremont, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 99 | 52% | — | — |
| 38 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 99 | 82% | — | $47,822 |
| 39 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 97 | 69% | — | $32,162 |
| 40 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 97 | 91% | — | $53,402 |
| 41 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CAPublicAssociate's | 93 | 26% | — | — |
| 42 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 93 | 93% | — | $38,449 |
| 43 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OKPublicAssociate's | 93 | 28% | — | — |
| 44 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 92 | 86% | — | $55,731 |
| 45 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 91 | 95% | $17,613 | $87,251 |
| 46 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 90 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 47 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 90 | 89% | $21,956 | $64,604 |
| 48 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CAPublicAssociate's | 89 | 45% | — | — |
| 49 | Illinois State University Normal, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 89 | 65% | — | $52,597 |
| 50 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 89 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Mathematics field (CIP 27.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 54 states & territories
Where Mathematics graduates come from. Each state links to all Mathematics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2021, Mathematicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Mathematics program can pursue careers as mathematicians, secondary school teachers, data scientists, and more. While the job outlook shows little to no change with an annual opening of about 100 positions, the median wage for mathematicians is approximately $121,680, with a typical education requirement of a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 27.0101
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 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor'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 |
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 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 Mathematics specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Mathematics (CIP 27.01).
- MathematicsCIP 27.0199344 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Analysis and Functional AnalysisCIP 27.0103limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Topology and FoundationsCIP 27.0105limited data3 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Algebra and Number Theory27.0102
- Geometry/
Geometric Analysis27.0104
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Associate's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Mathematics.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in mathematics, critical thinking, writing, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Mathematics?+
You can become a mathematician, teacher, data scientist, or work in various analytical roles.
What is the job outlook for mathematicians?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Mathematics?+
Mathematics is CIP 27.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Mathematics (CIP 27.01). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
How many institutions offer Mathematics programs?+
1,300 U.S. institutions reported Mathematics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 54 states & territories, awarding 23,537 credentials in the year. That is 98.5% of all Mathematics graduates.
How much do Mathematics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Mathematicians occupation, which Mathematics most directly leads to, pays a median of $126,710 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Mathematics field report median earnings of $48,726 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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Mathematics graduates, so its figures match the Mathematics program page.
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