Mathematics major
Mathematics: courses, careers, and where to study
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
A Mathematics major covers calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, topology, differential equations, and an applied or pure track. Most BS programs require a senior research thesis. BS programs often allow specialization in Applied Math, Pure Math, Statistics, Actuarial Science, or Mathematical Computing.
Math graduates work in actuarial science (one of the highest-paid bachelor's pathways), finance, software engineering, data science, operations research, cryptography, and academia. Math pairs naturally with Computer Science, Economics, or Physics for double majors.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Mathematics maps to CIP 27.0101, Mathematics, General, within the MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS family. The official definition:
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: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Mathematics is awarded as
Of the 25,320 Mathematics credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%189
- Associate17%4,328
- Bachelor's68%17,275
- Graduate14%3,528
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 46 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 1 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Calculus I–III, multivariable calculus
- Linear algebra
- Abstract algebra
- Real and complex analysis
- Probability and statistics
- Differential equations
- Topology or numerical analysis (track-dependent)
- Senior thesis
Typical careers
- Actuary
- Quantitative Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Software Engineer
- Cryptographer
- Mathematician (PhD, academia)
Typical salary range: $62,000–$110,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 mathematicians median $121,680)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Mathematics, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data Scientists | $112,590 | 23,400 | +33.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,350 | 4,400 | +2.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Statisticians | $103,300 | 2,000 | +8.5% | Master's degree |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $71,490 | 300 | +4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Mathematicians | $121,680 | 100 | -0.7% | Master's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 7 of these 7 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Mathematics does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Mathematics major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Mathematics program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Mathematics department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Mathematics program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Mathematics credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · 362
- The University of Texas at AustinTX · 294
- University of California-San DiegoCA · 275
- University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · 254
- Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · 249
- University of California-Los AngelesCA · 248
- University of Maryland-College ParkMD · 242
- University of California-IrvineCA · 226
- University of ChicagoIL · 223
- University of Massachusetts-AmherstMA · 220
- New York UniversityNY · 214
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · 202
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Mathematics credentials were awarded
43 states have a distinct enough set of Mathematics colleges to be worth its own page.
- California170
- New York84
- Texas82
- Pennsylvania82
- Illinois46
- Massachusetts44
- Ohio43
- North Carolina40
- Virginia36
- Georgia35
- New Jersey30
- Indiana30
- Missouri30
- Tennessee29
- Michigan28
- Florida27
- Wisconsin26
- Minnesota26
- Iowa26
- Alabama22
- Kentucky22
- Oklahoma22
- South Carolina20
- Maryland18
- Louisiana18
- Kansas18
- Washington17
- Connecticut17
- Arkansas17
- Colorado16
- Nebraska16
- Oregon16
- Mississippi16
- Arizona15
- New Mexico13
- Utah10
- New Hampshire8
- Maine8
- District of Columbia8
- Idaho8
- West Virginia7
- Montana6
- South Dakota6
Related majors
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Computer Science
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Statistics
Statistics covers the mathematics of collecting, modeling, and drawing conclusions from data, a quantitative major suited to students who like reasoning under uncertainty.
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
Still deciding between Mathematics and something else?
These guides put Mathematicsside by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Mathematics degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Computing & Math careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Education & Library careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Mathematics degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Mathematics path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.