by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 123 U.S. colleges awarded 1,326 degrees and certificates in Actuarial Science. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Actuarial Science 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.
Studying Actuarial Science involves the study of Actuarial Science. A Program That Focuses On The Mathematical And Statistical Analysis Of Risk, And Their Applications To Insurance And Other Business Management Problems. Includes Instruction In Forecasting Theory, Quantitative And Non-Quantitative Risk Measurement Methodologies, Development Of Risk Tables, Secondary Data Analysis, And Computer-Assisted Research Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., actuarial science draws strong interest, with 1,326 degrees awarded annually. 123 colleges award actuarial science degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 92.
By level, the 1,326 awards include 1 certificates, 1,031 bachelor’s degrees and 294 master’s degrees.
Women earned 37% of actuarial science degrees and certificates in the latest year (487 of 1,326). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (709) and Asian (128), and international students earned 305.
College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best Actuarial Science Schools ranking, including 27 for bachelor’s degrees and 18 for master’s degrees. It also ranks actuarial science schools within 20 states. In all, 123 colleges offer actuarial science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Actuarial Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common actuarial science credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,031 of the 1,326 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to actuarial science call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Mathematics, English Language and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an actuarial science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,031 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 294 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to actuarial science, at 50.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 50.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.7% |
| Master’s degree | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.0% |
| First professional degree | 5.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Actuarial Science, with an average median salary of $101,745; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Risk Adjustment Analyst, Securities Research Analyst, Risk Management Analyst and Financial Risk Analyst.
The occupation related to actuarial science with the most projected jobs is Financial Risk Specialists, at 684,551.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Actuaries | 216,689 | -3.6% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 55,479 | -3.6% |
Actuarial Science 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 actuarial science is Insurance Underwriters, with a median salary of $129,939.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Insurance Underwriters | $129,939 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Actuaries | $69,100 |
Actuarial Science has 3 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 66,972 degrees a year; the largest are Management Science (36,131), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (24,779) and Business Statistics (6,062). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Science | 36,131 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 24,779 |
| Business Statistics | 6,062 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
