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What are math majors?

Math is a general area of study focusing on logic that includes topics such as number theory, geometry, algebra, calculus, and discrete mathematics. A math program may focus on any mix of applied mathematics, which is math used for practical purposes often combined with knowledge from other fields, and pure or theoretical mathematics, which is math using theory and proofs to make more abstract discoveries. Math course loads may intersect with or specialize in fields like statistics, operations research, computer science, economics, and finance.

How much do math majors make?

Math graduates typically make between $50,000 and $140,000 per year. The national average of reported salaries for math degrees is $87,000. The highest paying major within math is Computational and applied mathematics with an average salary of $103,000. The lowest paying major within math is Mathematics with an average salary of $85,000.
Math majorsAverage salarySalary
Computational and applied mathematics$103,000
Statistics$90,000
Mathematics$85,000
Business analyticsNo data
Data analyticsNo data
Data scienceNo data

Popular math majors by degrees awarded

On average, around 35,100 students obtain a bachelor's degree or associate degree in all math fields each year. In 2021, the most popular major within math was mathematics with 22,159 students obtaining a bachelor's degree and 4,841 students obtaining an associate degree. The least popular major was data analytics with 60 students obtaining a bachelor's degree and fewer than 5 students obtaining an associate degree. Overall, math is a relatively popular area of study.