by our College Data Analytics Team
[Applied Mathematics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/applied-mathematics/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their applied mathematics graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose applied mathematics graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in applied mathematics, no school beat New York University this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the applied mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $172,750.
Students chasing top earnings in applied mathematics will find them at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Applied Mathematics graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $114,004 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in applied mathematics will find them at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Applied Mathematics graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of about $83,112 a year early in their careers.
University At Buffalo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying applied mathematics schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. After graduating, applied mathematics degree recipients from University At Buffalo typically earn about $63,402 annually.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their applied mathematics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.