Applied Mathematics

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$64,143

Median Earnings

$92,803

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

B+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $74,740Median: $92,80375th: $104,454

Best Schools for Applied Mathematics by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Harvard University MA · Private	96	$170,689	$19,066	N/A	-
2	Brown University RI · Private	96	$157,822	$25,184	$10,000	A
3	Stevens Institute of Technology NJ · Private	92	$156,419	$41,346	$25,841	B+
4	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$148,740	$29,167	N/A	-
5	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$120,495	$17,339	$14,929	A
6	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public	94	$119,839	$11,655	$15,300	A
7	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$118,414	$13,481	$14,598	A
8	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$117,990	$24,953	$20,500	A
9	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$109,360	$16,109	$17,000	B+
10	Marist University NY · Private	74	$109,170	$41,544	$26,000	A
11	University of Connecticut CT · Public	85	$104,454	$25,097	$26,157	B
12	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public	85	$104,454	$10,875	$26,157	B
13	University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public	87	$104,454	$13,807	$26,157	B
14	University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public	84	$104,454	$16,798	$26,157	B
15	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public	87	$104,454	$16,403	$26,157	B
16	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$103,887	$12,548	$14,400	A
17	University at Albany NY · Public	79	$103,659	$17,167	$21,286	B+
18	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$101,094	$32,740	$12,251	A
19	Colorado School of Mines CO · Public	94	$98,190	$28,690	$21,500	B
20	University of Pittsburgh-Bradford PA · Public	75	$95,719	$15,350	$22,571	B
21	University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg PA · Public	71	$95,719	$17,945	$22,571	B
22	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public	70	$95,719	$30,434	$22,571	B
23	University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public	67	$92,803	$17,490	$21,000	B+
24	Bryant University RI · Private	84	$86,595	$41,219	$26,000	B
25	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$85,792	$21,315	$16,750	B+
26	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$85,233	$12,470	$15,516	B
27	Auburn University AL · Public	76	$83,741	$24,323	$19,000	B+
28	Stony Brook University NY · Public	87	$82,200	$18,784	$19,000	B
29	University of California-Merced CA · Public	84	$82,156	$11,983	$16,497	B
30	University of Portland OR · Private	89	$77,908	$28,210	$20,810	B
31	Robert Morris University PA · Private	63	$76,610	$23,003	$25,000	B
32	Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private	75	$76,069	$34,906	$26,682	B
33	Boise State University ID · Public	45	$75,336	$21,610	N/A	-
34	Virginia Military Institute VA · Public	88	$74,740	$17,113	N/A	-
35	American Public University System WV · Private	50	$73,845	$9,597	$30,599	C
36	Texas State University TX · Public	63	$72,464	$16,805	$28,409	C
37	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$71,317	$14,967	$17,681	B+
38	Washington State University WA · Public	84	$70,085	$14,971	$17,675	C
39	San Diego State University CA · Public	84	$69,606	$15,364	$24,563	C
40	Western Washington University WA · Public	72	$68,359	$21,193	N/A	-
41	CUNY City College NY · Public	82	$66,754	$3,776	N/A	-
42	Missouri University of Science and Technology MO · Public	90	$66,750	$16,298	$24,107	C
43	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$65,508	$14,741	$14,750	B+
44	Coastal Carolina University SC · Public	36	$59,208	$13,966	N/A	-
45	Farmingdale State College NY · Public	83	$50,388	$10,867	$18,806	B

School-by-school analysis: Applied Mathematics

Editorial breakdowns of how applied mathematics graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

Harvard University

MA · Private · $170,689 4yr earnings

Applied Mathematics (120 graduates) earns $114,279 at year one and $170,689 at year four. Debt and ratio data are not available from the Scorecard. Applied math at Harvard is an interdisciplinary path that blends mathematics, computation, and domain applications in economics, engineering sciences, or life sciences. Graduates flow into quantitative finance, technology, data science, and graduate programs in economics, statistics, and computer science. The four-year earnings of $170k reflect the same finance-and-tech pipeline as the statistics major, with more pathway diversity.

Brown University

RI · Private · $157,822 4yr earnings · $10,000 median debt

Applied Mathematics produces 173 graduates annually. Early-career pay of $99,193 and four-year median of $157,822 (A grade) with $10,000 in median debt and a ratio of 0.101 rival CS in terms of financial outcomes. Applied math at elite schools produces graduates who enter quantitative finance, actuarial science, machine learning research, and data science at the highest levels. The four-year earnings figure of $157,822 reflects how rapidly these graduates accelerate in career tracks that value mathematical sophistication. The low debt load -- $10,000 median -- reflects Brown's financial aid generosity rather than program cost.

Stevens Institute of Technology

NJ · Private · $156,419 4yr earnings · $25,841 median debt

Seventy-seven Applied Mathematics graduates earn $97,700 at year one and $156,419 at four years -- the highest four-year earnings at Stevens. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.264 (ROI grade B+) and $25,841 median debt are clean. Applied math at a technically-focused school trains graduates for quantitative finance, actuarial science, algorithmic trading, and data science roles -- all well-represented in the New York City financial sector. The $156k four-year figure reflects placement into quantitative roles that pay premium salaries in one of the world's highest-wage financial markets.

Strong Value

Is Applied Mathematics Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Applied Mathematics delivers above-average financial returns. Average earnings of $64,143 four years out put graduates in a strong position to handle student debt and build wealth. The ROI is solid, though school choice and specialization within the field matter.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 49 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Harvard University, where graduates earn $114,279 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

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