by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,318 U.S. colleges awarded 26,595 degrees and certificates in General Mathematics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 64% of graduates. College Factual ranks 479 schools in its 2027 Best General Mathematics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,606 one year after completing, rising to $75,664 after four years.
Studying General Mathematics involves the study of Mathematics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Analysis Of Quantities, Magnitudes, Forms, And Their Relationships, Using Symbolic Logic And Language. Includes Instruction In Algebra, Calculus, Functional Analysis, Geometry, Number Theory, Logic, Topology And Other Mathematical Specializations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general mathematics is a widely-pursued major, with 26,595 degrees awarded annually. 1,318 colleges award general mathematics degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 420.
By level, the 26,595 awards include 23 certificates, 5,354 associate degrees, 17,133 bachelor’s degrees, 2,869 master’s degrees and 1,216 doctorates.
Women earned 36% of general mathematics degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,445 of 26,595). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (11,549) and Hispanic or Latino (4,205), and international students earned 4,116.
College Factual ranks 479 schools in its 2027 Best General Mathematics Schools ranking, including 114 for associate degrees, 350 for bachelor’s degrees, 86 for master’s degrees and 49 for doctorates. It also ranks general mathematics schools within 46 states. In all, 1,318 colleges offer general mathematics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Mathematics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general mathematics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 17,133 of the 26,595 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general mathematics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
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How long a general mathematics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,354 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17,133 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,869 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,216 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general mathematics, at 55.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.9% |
| Master’s degree | 22.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to General Mathematics, with an average median salary of $106,648; the strongest outlook belongs to Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Data Analyst, Research Scientist, Research Analyst and Clinical Data Coordinator.
The occupation related to general mathematics with the most projected jobs is Business Intelligence Analysts, at 585,851.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | 434,408 | -2.4% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | 358,631 | -0.2% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
General Mathematics graduates earn a median $51,606 one year after completing their program, $75,664 after four years and $75,766 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,606 |
| 4 years | $75,664 |
| 5 years | $75,766 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general mathematics is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | $121,896 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
General Mathematics has 3 similar majors in the Mathematics & Statistics field, which together award 384 degrees a year; the largest are Mathematics, Other (374), Analysis and Functional Analysis (7) and Topology and Foundations (3). Browse all Mathematics & Statistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematics, Other | 374 |
| Analysis and Functional Analysis | 7 |
| Topology and Foundations | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
