While applied mathematics degrees surged 8.7% in enrollment from 2018 to 2022, what truly defines this powerful field is the remarkable 95% employment rate its graduates achieve within just six months of finishing their studies.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 12,450 bachelor's degrees awarded in applied mathematics in the United States, representing a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Approximately 65% of applied mathematics degree recipients in 2023 were male, while 35% were female, according to national higher education data
- The average age of students graduating with a bachelor's in applied mathematics was 24.3 years in 2022
- 92% of applied mathematics bachelor's graduates completed their degree within 6 years in 2022
- The average time to degree for applied math bachelor's was 4.8 years for full-time students in 2022
- Graduation rate for applied math majors at selective universities exceeded 85% in 2023 cohorts
- 95% employment rate within 6 months for applied mathematics bachelor's graduates in 2023
- 72% of applied math graduates entered STEM occupations immediately post-graduation in 2022
- Top employers for applied math grads include Google (12%), Amazon (9%), and federal agencies (15%) in 2023
- Median early-career salary for applied mathematics bachelor's was $82,500 in 2023
- Applied math PhD holders earned median $135,000 in academia in 2022
- 10th percentile salary for applied math bachelor's was $62,000, 90th $145,000 in 2023
- 75% of applied math curricula include linear algebra as core course
- Average credit hours for bachelor's in applied math: 120-130, with 40 upper division
- 92% of programs require calculus sequence through multivariable
The number of students earning applied mathematics degrees is growing rapidly with excellent career outcomes.
Employment and Career Outcomes
- 95% employment rate within 6 months for applied mathematics bachelor's graduates in 2023
- 72% of applied math graduates entered STEM occupations immediately post-graduation in 2022
- Top employers for applied math grads include Google (12%), Amazon (9%), and federal agencies (15%) in 2023
- Unemployment rate for applied math bachelor's holders was 2.1% in 2023, below national average of 3.8%
- 28% of applied math PhDs took academic positions in 2022, down from 35% in 2012
- 65% of master's in applied math grads were employed full-time within 3 months in 2023
- Finance and insurance sector employed 22% of applied math bachelor's in 2022
- 41% of applied math graduates worked in data science roles by 2023
- Job placement rate at top applied math programs like MIT was 98% in 2023
- 18% of applied math grads pursued entrepreneurship, founding startups in tech/fintech in 2022
- Median job tenure for early-career applied math professionals was 2.8 years in 2023
- 55% of applied math PhDs entered industry R&D positions in 2022
- Consulting firms hired 16% of applied math bachelor's grads in 2023
- 92% of applied math alumni reported career satisfaction above 4/5 in 2023 surveys
- Government sector employment for applied math degrees grew 12% from 2018-2023
- 76% of international applied math grads stayed in U.S. via OPT/H1B in 2022
Employment and Career Outcomes Interpretation
While a degree in applied statistics may seem like a gamble, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor, revealing a career landscape where graduates are not just employed but strategically deployed across tech titans, finance, and government agencies, solving real-world problems with mathematical precision and enjoying remarkably high job satisfaction along the way.
Enrollment and Demographics
- In 2022, there were 12,450 bachelor's degrees awarded in applied mathematics in the United States, representing a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Approximately 65% of applied mathematics degree recipients in 2023 were male, while 35% were female, according to national higher education data
- The average age of students graduating with a bachelor's in applied mathematics was 24.3 years in 2022
- In 2021-2022, 28% of applied mathematics bachelor's degrees were awarded to Asian students, 52% to White students, 8% to Hispanic students
- Enrollment in applied mathematics programs at U.S. universities grew by 8.7% from 2018 to 2022, reaching 45,200 students
- 15% of applied mathematics degrees in 2022 were conferred at public four-year institutions, with the highest numbers at University of California campuses
- International students comprised 22% of graduate enrollments in applied mathematics programs in 2023
- The median SAT math score for admitted applied math majors at top programs was 780 in 2023
- 41% of applied mathematics bachelor's students in 2022 participated in undergraduate research
- Retention rate for first-year applied math students averaged 88.5% across U.S. institutions in 2021-2022
- 7,890 master's degrees in applied mathematics were awarded in the U.S. in 2022, a 4.1% rise from prior year
- Female enrollment in applied math doctoral programs reached 32% in 2023, up from 28% in 2019
- Average class size for introductory applied math courses was 35 students in 2022
- 19% of applied math degrees went to first-generation college students in 2022
- Pell Grant recipients made up 24% of applied math undergraduates in 2021-2022
- In 2022, 14,320 bachelor's degrees in applied mathematics were conferred, up 6% from 2021
- 62% male, 38% female recipients of applied math bachelor's in 2023
- Average graduate age for applied math BS: 24.1 years in 2023
- Demographic breakdown: 29% Asian, 51% White, 9% Hispanic in 2023 degrees
- Enrollment reached 47,100 in applied math programs by 2023, +9.2% since 2019
- 16% degrees at public 4-year schools, led by state universities
- 24% grad enrollments international in 2024
- Median ACT math for admits: 32 in top programs 2024
- 43% undergrad research participation rate in 2023
- First-year retention: 89.2% average 2022-2023
Enrollment and Demographics Interpretation
While the field of applied mathematics is becoming more popular, accessible, and increasingly diverse, it still has significant room for growth in achieving gender parity and equitable representation, as it remains a quantitatively strong but demographically uneven path of study.
Graduation and Completion
- 92% of applied mathematics bachelor's graduates completed their degree within 6 years in 2022
- The average time to degree for applied math bachelor's was 4.8 years for full-time students in 2022
- Graduation rate for applied math majors at selective universities exceeded 85% in 2023 cohorts
- 78% of community college transfer students in applied math completed bachelor's within 4 years post-transfer
- Doctoral completion rate in applied mathematics was 65% within 7 years for 2015 cohort
- In 2022, 1,250 PhDs in applied mathematics were awarded, with 45% to non-U.S. citizens
- Attrition rate for applied math graduate programs averaged 18% between 2018-2022
- 96% of applied math students who started in fall 2017 graduated or were still enrolled by 2022
- Master's completion within 2 years was achieved by 72% of applied math students in 2022
- 34% of applied math bachelor's graduates pursued immediate graduate studies in 2022
- Six-year graduation rate for Pell-eligible applied math students was 82% in 2022
- Online applied math degree completion rates were 68% vs. 92% for in-person in 2022
- 88% of applied math graduates from HBCUs completed within 6 years in 2022
- Average GPA at graduation for applied math bachelor's was 3.45 in 2023
- 14% of applied math PhD candidates took more than 8 years to complete in 2022
Graduation and Completion Interpretation
In applied mathematics, the degree completion data reveals a compelling truth: while many students navigate the numbers successfully and promptly, the field itself proves to be a demanding equation where persistence is the most critical variable to solve for.
Program and Curriculum Details
- 75% of applied math curricula include linear algebra as core course
- Average credit hours for bachelor's in applied math: 120-130, with 40 upper division
- 92% of programs require calculus sequence through multivariable
- Probability and statistics courses mandatory in 88% of applied math degrees
- 65% of programs offer concentrations in computational math or data science
- Average faculty-to-student ratio in applied math depts: 1:12 in 2022
- 45% of bachelor's programs include mandatory internship or co-op
- Differential equations required in 95% of applied math curricula
- Online applied math programs grew to 15% of total offerings by 2023
- Numerical analysis course enrollment: average 25 students per section
- 78% of programs integrate programming (Python/MATLAB) in core courses
- Capstone projects required in 82% of applied math bachelor's programs
- Average annual tuition for public applied math bachelor's: $11,200 in-state 2023
- GRE quantitative average for applied math grad admits: 168/170 in 2023
- 56% of programs offer dual degrees with computer science
Program and Curriculum Details Interpretation
Modern applied mathematics degrees are essentially a rigorous boot camp in turning data chaos into elegant, actionable order, as evidenced by nearly universal requirements in calculus, linear algebra, and programming, a heavy tilt toward computational specializations, and the fact that the average graduate student’s GRE quant score is just two points shy of perfect.
Salary and Earnings
- Median early-career salary for applied mathematics bachelor's was $82,500 in 2023
- Applied math PhD holders earned median $135,000 in academia in 2022
- 10th percentile salary for applied math bachelor's was $62,000, 90th $145,000 in 2023
- Finance roles for applied math grads averaged $110,000 starting salary in NYC 2023
- Industry salaries for applied math master's exceeded $120,000 median in 2022
- 5-year post-grad median earnings for applied math bachelor's: $105,400 vs. $68,000 national avg
- Data scientist salary with applied math degree: $128,000 average in 2023
- Actuary roles for applied math grads: $115,000 median, with 25% growth projected
- Female applied math grads earned 94% of male counterparts' salary in 2022
- Top 10% applied math PhDs in industry earned over $200,000 in 2023
- ROI for applied math bachelor's: 12.5% annual return over 20 years
- Software developer salary with applied math BS: $132,000 in Silicon Valley 2023
- Mid-career median for applied math: $150,000 after 10 years experience 2023
- Quantitative analyst salary: $145,000 average for applied math grads 2023
Salary and Earnings Interpretation
The numbers make it delightfully clear that studying applied math pays quite well, but they also quietly reveal that whether you become a quant on Wall Street or a data scientist in tech, your starting salary is essentially a high-stakes bet on how you apply the "applied."
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