Mathematics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Mathematics graduates earn a median $69,562 four years after finishing — $21,202/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 3.2 years. Federal data pools 1,034 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 20,126 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | NC | $297,029 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $174,951 |
| 3 | University of Chicago | IL | $172,826 |
| 4 | Dartmouth College | NH | $168,580 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University | TN | $141,171 |
| 6 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | $134,785 |
| 7 | Cornell University | NY | $134,455 |
| 8 | Williams College | MA | $134,304 |
| 9 | Georgetown University | DC | $127,760 |
| 10 | Northeastern University | MA | $125,084 |
| 11 | Amherst College | MA | $124,324 |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | GA | $122,099 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.