Applied Mathematics Degree

44 schools compared · Average earnings $62,641/yr

Students study mathematical methods used to solve real-world problems in science, engineering, finance, and technology, including differential equations, optimization, and numerical analysis. Graduates typically pursue careers as data scientists, quantitative analysts, operations researchers, and mathematical modelers in finance, tech, defense, and consulting. Applied mathematicians command premium salaries in quantitative finance and technology sectors.

What Applied Mathematics Graduates Do

Your degree in applied mathematics makes you a professional problem-solver for complex systems. As a data scientist, you won't just analyze data; you'll build the predictive models that power business decisions, spending your days cleaning messy datasets and translating your findings for executives. In finance, you might work as an analyst, living in spreadsheets to model a company's future earnings and advise on major trades. Or, as an actuary, you’ll use statistical models to calculate the financial cost of risk for insurance companies, essentially predicting the future to set policy prices.

Initially, you’ll focus on executing these analyses. As you advance, your role shifts to designing the strategy, managing projects, and making the final judgment calls. Paths like data science and actuarial science are growing exceptionally fast, offering quicker advancement than more traditional, slower-growing roles in the field.

AI will be your powerful but disruptive coworker. In high-exposure roles like data science, AI handles many routine modeling tasks, shifting your value toward designing complex systems and critically evaluating automated outputs. For most other paths, AI will automate significant chunks of analysis, freeing you to focus on strategy and communicating insights. Your career won't be about running the numbers, but knowing which numbers to run and what they truly mean.

Schools Offering
44
Avg Grad Earnings
$62,641/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
60/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
60% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Applied Mathematics graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 87,000 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
$114K$215K
8,500 +3.7% 50%
Actuaries
$125,770
$91K$165K
2,400 +21.8% 50%
Mathematicians
$121,680
$86K$153K
100 -0.7% 100%
Economists
$115,440
$82K$166K
900 +1.2% 61%
Data scientists
$112,590
$83K$156K
23,400 +33.5% 64%
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
$80K$145K
4,800 +6.5% 53%
Statisticians
$103,300
$79K$138K
2,000 +8.5% 66%
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
$78K$132K
25,100 +5.7% 46%
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330
$68K$121K
4,800 +1.2% 49%
Financial specialists, all other
$80,190
$60K$109K
10,300 +3.1% 48%
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
$79,350
$61K$106K
4,400 +2.3% 54%
Mathematical science occupations, all other
$71,490
$52K$102K
300 +4.0% 87%
Natural sciences managers
$161,180
$114K $215K
8,500 openings/yr +3.7% growth 50% AI risk
Actuaries
$125,770
$91K $165K
2,400 openings/yr +21.8% growth 50% AI risk
Mathematicians
$121,680
$86K $153K
100 openings/yr -0.7% growth 100% AI risk
Economists
$115,440
$82K $166K
900 openings/yr +1.2% growth 61% AI risk
Data scientists
$112,590
$83K $156K
23,400 openings/yr +33.5% growth 64% AI risk
Financial risk specialists
$106,000
$80K $145K
4,800 openings/yr +6.5% growth 53% AI risk
Statisticians
$103,300
$79K $138K
2,000 openings/yr +8.5% growth 66% AI risk
Financial and investment analysts
$101,350
$78K $132K
25,100 openings/yr +5.7% growth 46% AI risk
Biological scientists, all other
$93,330
$68K $121K
4,800 openings/yr +1.2% growth 49% AI risk
Financial specialists, all other
$80,190
$60K $109K
10,300 openings/yr +3.1% growth 48% AI risk
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
$79,350
$61K $106K
4,400 openings/yr +2.3% growth 54% AI risk
Mathematical science occupations, all other
$71,490
$52K $102K
300 openings/yr +4.0% growth 87% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Applied Mathematics

Top 20 of 44 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
78
74–79
$75,105/yr 31.8x
2 University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
77
73–78
$71,814/yr 23.4x
3 University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI
75
71–76
$67,159/yr 22.0x
4 University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
73
68–74
$59,638/yr 17.3x
5 University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
72
67–73
$61,188/yr 16.4x
6 Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX
71
66–72
$57,787/yr 16.7x
7 Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
70
66–71
$114,279/yr 6.5x
8 University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA
69
65–71
$58,358/yr 14.4x
9 University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
Greensburg, PA
69
65–71
$58,358/yr 14.4x
10 University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
69
64–70
$53,940/yr 14.6x
11 Brown University
Providence, RI
68
63–69
$99,193/yr 4.0x
12 University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC
68
64–70
$59,965/yr 16.0x
13 Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ
68
64–69
$55,173/yr 15.7x
14 Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
66
64–68
$44,972/yr 20.3x
15 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
65
60–66
$58,358/yr 9.5x
16 Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
65
61–66
$49,822/yr 15.1x
17 Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH
64
59–65
$82,523/yr 15.0x
18 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
62
57–63
$82,275/yr 12.3x
19 Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA
62
57–63
$62,328/yr 5.3x
20 Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
62
58–63
$50,398/yr 9.6x

Highest Earning Applied Mathematics Programs

Schools where Applied Mathematics graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Applied Mathematics

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Applied Mathematics.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 31.8x $75,105/yr 78
CUNY City College 25.1x $28,702/yr 48
University of California-Berkeley 23.4x $71,814/yr 77
University of Wisconsin-Stout 22.0x $67,159/yr 75
Kennesaw State University 20.6x $50,007/yr 59
Stony Brook University 20.3x $44,972/yr 66
University of California-Santa Barbara 17.3x $59,638/yr 73
Texas A & M University-College Station 16.7x $57,787/yr 71
University of California-Los Angeles 16.4x $61,188/yr 72
University of South Carolina Aiken 16.0x $59,965/yr 68
Want to compare two Applied Mathematics programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Applied Mathematics graduates earn?
Across 44 schools, Applied Mathematics graduates earn an average of $62,641 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $27,626 to $114,279 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Applied Mathematics?
Applied Mathematics is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 60% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Applied Mathematics program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks #1 for Applied Mathematics with a score of 78/100 and graduate earnings of $75,105/yr.
What's the outlook for a Applied Mathematics degree?
On average, Applied Mathematics graduates earn 11.7x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →