Applied Mathematics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Applied Mathematics graduates earn a median $91,532 four years after finishing — $43,172/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 1.6 years. Federal data pools 277 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 4,661 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Applied Mathematics ranks #21 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 90% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | MA | $170,689 |
| 2 | Brown University | RI | $157,822 |
| 3 | Stevens Institute of Technology | NJ | $156,419 |
| 4 | Northwestern University | IL | $148,740 |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $120,495 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $119,839 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $118,414 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $117,990 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara | CA | $109,360 |
| 10 | Marist University | NY | $109,170 |
| 11 | University of Connecticut | CT | $104,454 |
| 12 | University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | $104,454 |
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.