Best Schools for Mathematics

Mathematics graduates earn a median of $45,449 within two years of graduation, ranking #95 out of 292 tracked majors — 28% above the median across all fields. There are 358 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 9,512 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Swarthmore College graduates earn $125,015 while Berea College graduates earn $17,846 — a $107,169 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Mathematics graduates see an average 3% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

358

Schools

$45,449

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#95

of 292 Majors

9,512

Graduates

Public vs Private: Mathematics

Public (247 schools)

$42,165

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (110 schools)

$52,871

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $10,706 more in early earnings on average for Mathematics graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Mathematics by State

Top Mathematics Schools by Graduate Earnings

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · Private

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$97,071

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 7.9%

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD · Private

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

$81,333

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 6.8%

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN · Private

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · Private

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Private

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

Bentley University

Waltham, MA · Private

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA · Private

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Private

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY · Public

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO · Private

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

Washington College

Chestertown, MD · Private

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

Rutgers University-Camden

Camden, NJ · Public

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ · Public

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

New York University

New York, NY · Private

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

Showing top 50 of 358 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

International Business $45,852 Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician $45,597 Curriculum and Instruction $45,570 Housing and Human Environments $45,482 Architectural Sciences and Technology $45,453 Architecture $44,559

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Mathematics?

Swarthmore College ranks #1 for Mathematics with median graduate earnings of $125,015 within two years. There are 358 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Mathematics graduates earn?

Mathematics graduates earn an average of $45,449 within two years of graduation. This is 28% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $17,846 to $125,015 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Mathematics program?

The average acceptance rate across Mathematics programs is 69.3%. The most selective program is at Columbia University in the City of New York with a 4.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Mathematics?

Private Mathematics programs average $52,871 in early earnings vs $42,165 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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