Applied Math

Types of Degrees Applied Math Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many applied 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	6,541
Bachelor’s Degree	4,621
Doctor’s Degree	340
Graduate Certificate	97
Basic Certificate	29
Undergraduate Certificate	4
Associate Degree	3

What Applied Math Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to applied math were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Applied 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.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• 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.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills for Applied Math Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to applied math:

• 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.
• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• 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.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Applied Math Majors

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

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 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.

What Can You Do With a Applied Math Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with applied math:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Actuaries	22.5%	$102,880
Bioinformatics Scientists	8.0%	$79,590
Biostatisticians	33.9%	$87,780
Clinical Data Managers	33.9%	$87,780
Economists	6.1%	$104,340
Environmental Economists	6.1%	$104,340
Financial Analysts	10.8%	$85,660
Financial Quantitative Analysts	9.6%	$70,280
Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts	9.6%	$70,280
Investment Underwriters	9.6%	$70,280
Mathematical Science Occupations	9.1%	NA
Mathematical Science Professors	9.4%	$73,230
Mathematicians	29.0%	$101,900
Molecular and Cellular Biologists	8.0%	$79,590
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Risk Management Specialists	9.6%	$70,280
Statisticians	33.9%	$87,780
Water Resource Specialists	9.9%	$123,860

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Math?

This is a less frequently chosen undergraduate major. Only 4,800 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics in 2021, making it rank #82 in popularity. This major attracts more men than women. About 63% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	917
Black or African American	105
Hispanic or Latino	398
White	1,641
International Students	1,256
Other Races/Ethnicities	304

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Applied Math. About 27.2% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Applied Math

Some degrees associated with applied 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 applied math have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.2%
Some College Courses	0.2%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	35.2%
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.	5.5%
Master’s Degree	29.0%
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.	0.8%
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.	1.9%
Doctoral Degree	20.8%
Post-Doctoral Training	6.3%

Online Applied 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)	2	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	3	1
Bachelor’s Degree	39	8
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	238	11
Post-Master’s	9	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	85	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Applied Math

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

Major	Number of Grads
Mathematics	27,179
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
• Image Credit: By Steven G. Johnson under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.