by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 563 U.S. colleges awarded 68,298 degrees and certificates in Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 381 schools in its 2027 Best Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $85,529 one year after completing, rising to $103,588 after four years.
Do you ever wonder who make the tough decisions in business? Who decides where investment will go, if employees can be hired or prices altered? Students who major in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods will learn how to use business and scientific techniques in order to make decisions, design systems, and solve problems for business.
Be prepared to study applications of data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting and operations, and statistical modeling in order to research these problems for various organizations.
There are two concentrations within this major: Business Statistics, and Actuarial Science. While focusing on this major, you will be taking courses in systems analysis and design, research methods, finance, statistics, marketing, and business administration and management.
A degree in Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods explores Management Sciences And Quantitative Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, management sciences & quantitative methods draws strong interest, with 68,298 degrees awarded annually. 563 colleges award management sciences & quantitative methods degrees, an average of 121 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,131.
By level, the 68,298 awards include 157 certificates, 203 associate degrees, 15,870 bachelor’s degrees, 51,696 master’s degrees and 348 doctorates.
Women earned 43% of management sciences & quantitative methods degrees and certificates in the latest year (29,275 of 68,298). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23,723) and Asian (8,031), and international students earned 23,892.
College Factual ranks 381 schools in its 2027 Best Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees, 167 for bachelor’s degrees, 303 for master’s degrees and 13 for doctorates. It also ranks management sciences & quantitative methods schools within 46 states. In all, 563 colleges offer management sciences & quantitative methods programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common management sciences & quantitative methods credential is the master’s degree: 51,696 of the 68,298 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to management sciences & quantitative methods call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
This is a great major a student with an analytical mind who loves solving problems. In your college work, as well as your career, you will be faced with a number of complex issues that you will need to use creativity and logic to overcome. Many of your projects will involve group work. Learn to improve your communication skills to achieve success.
Being comfortable with computers and technology will also help you. There is opportunity to gain a Master in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods if you decide to further your education.
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How long a management sciences & quantitative methods degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 157 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 203 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15,870 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 51,696 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 348 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to management sciences & quantitative methods, at 46.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.9% |
| Master’s degree | 29.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods, with an average median salary of $104,820; the strongest outlook belongs to Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Data Analyst, Business Process Analyst, Business Analyst and Reports Analyst.
There are a few different career options for graduates with a degree in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. They find work in a variety of companies doing research, improving efficiency and developing better work systems.
Some jobs that graduates work at are Computer Systems Analysts, Operations Research Analysts, Statisticians, Management Consultants, and Financial Analysis. All of these career options work with businesses to solve problems and create strategies to better their company. You will be working closely with different management teams and working with their data and software.
The occupation related to management sciences & quantitative methods with the most projected jobs is Financial Risk Specialists, at 684,551.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates earn a median $85,529 one year after completing their program, $103,588 after four years and $98,015 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $85,529 |
| 4 years | $103,588 |
| 5 years | $98,015 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to management sciences & quantitative methods is General and Operations Managers, with a median salary of $149,694.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Insurance Underwriters | $129,939 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Survey Researchers | $108,538 |
Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods includes 4 concentrations that together award 68,298 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Management Science (36,131), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (24,779) and Business Statistics (6,062). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 815,851 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration, Management and Operations (421,752), Accounting and Related Services (86,793) and Business/Commerce, General (61,663). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Science | 36,131 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 24,779 |
| Business Statistics | 6,062 |
| Actuarial Science | 1,326 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 421,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,764 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
