Math

Types of Degrees Math Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many mathematics graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	2,572
Doctor’s Degree	1,175
Graduate Certificate	84

What Math Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, math majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Math Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills for Math Majors

math majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities for Math Majors

As you progress with your math degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Math Major?

People with a math degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Mathematical Science Occupations	9.1%	NA
Mathematical Science Professors	9.4%	$73,230
Mathematicians	29.0%	$101,900
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	7.5%	$60,320
Statisticians	33.9%	$87,780

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Math?

This major tends to be male dominated. About 61% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of math majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	207
Black or African American	73
Hispanic or Latino	217
White	1,212
International Students	728
Other Races/Ethnicities	135

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Math, too. About 28.3% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Math

Some degrees associated with math may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to math have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	28.7%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	5.3%
Master’s Degree	35.9%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.1%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	1.3%
Doctoral Degree	23.9%
Post-Doctoral Training	4.1%

Online Math Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	12	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	295	29
Bachelor’s Degree	41	10
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	340	16
Post-Master’s	11	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	161	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Math

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to math.

Major	Number of Grads
Applied Mathematics	11,635
Statistics	9,944
Other Statistics	671
Applied Statistics	541

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.