Statistics major
Statistics: courses, careers, and where to study
Statistics covers the mathematics of collecting, modeling, and drawing conclusions from data, a quantitative major suited to students who like reasoning under uncertainty.
A Statistics major covers probability theory, statistical inference, regression and experimental design, sampling, and the calculus and linear algebra that underpin them. Most bachelor's programs pair this core with applied coursework in statistical computing (R, Python, SAS) and a data-analysis or consulting capstone, and many allow tracks in biostatistics, data science, or applied statistics.
Graduates apply these methods to design studies, build and validate models, and interpret results across fields such as healthcare, government, insurance, technology, and market research. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of statisticians is projected to grow 8.5% from 2024 to 2034, and the 2024 median wage for statisticians was $103,300. Many statistician roles list a master's degree as the typical entry-level education, so undergraduates often plan for graduate study or use the degree as a foundation for analyst and data roles.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Statistics maps to CIP 27.0501, Statistics, General, within the MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS family. The official definition:
A general program that focuses on the relationships between groups of measurements, and similarities and differences, using probability theory and techniques derived from it. Includes instruction in the principles in probability theory, binomial distribution, regression analysis, standard deviation, stochastic processes, Monte Carlo method, Bayesian statistics, non-parametric statistics, sampling theory, and statistical techniques.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Statistics is awarded as
Of the 9,597 Statistics credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate2%205
- Bachelor's53%5,130
- Graduate44%4,262
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 26 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 5 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
- Probability theory and random variables
- Statistical inference: estimation, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals
- Linear and logistic regression and generalized linear models
- Experimental design and analysis of variance (ANOVA)
- Sampling methods and survey design
- Bayesian methods and computational statistics
- Statistical programming in R, Python, and SAS
- Calculus, linear algebra, and a data-analysis or consulting capstone
Typical careers
- Statisticians
- Biostatistician
- Data Analyst
- Actuary
- Market Research Analyst
- Quantitative Analyst
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by industry and region (BLS, 2024 statisticians median $103,300)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 Statistics, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Actuaries | $125,770 | 2,400 | +21.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Statisticians | $103,300 | 2,000 | +8.5% | Master's degree |
| Survey Researchers | $63,380 | 700 | -5.2% | 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). 6 of these 6 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 Statistics 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 Statistics major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Statistics program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Statistics 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 Statistics 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 Statistics credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · 504
- University of North TexasTX · 455
- University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · 420
- University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · 405
- University of California-Los AngelesCA · 360
- University of California-DavisCA · 287
- Purdue University-Main CampusIN · 273
- University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · 203
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityPA · 188
- University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · 178
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · 173
- University of California-BerkeleyCA · 166
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 Statistics credentials were awarded
17 states have a distinct enough set of Statistics colleges to be worth its own page.
Related majors
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
Data Science
Data Science combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to turn raw data into decisions, drawing on machine learning, visualization, and data engineering.
Actuarial Science
Actuarial Science applies probability, statistics, and finance to measure and price risk, suiting students who enjoy heavy math and want to work toward professional actuarial exams.
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
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.
Still deciding between Statistics and something else?
These guides put Statisticsside 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 Statistics 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 Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Statistics 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 Statistics 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.