by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mathematics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/mathematics/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a mathematics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find where mathematics graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send mathematics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Santa Clara University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid mathematics graduates in California. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,342.
Chapman University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mathematics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Mathematics graduates of Chapman University earn a median of about $68,983 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Bakersfield one of the highest-paying schools for mathematics. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from California State University Bakersfield typically earn about $66,465 annually.
California State University Fresno produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mathematics, landing the #4 spot this year. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,558.
Students chasing top earnings in mathematics will find them at California State University Monterey Bay, which ranked #5. California State University Monterey Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Seaside. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,436.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #6 position for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $78,202 annually.
University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $87,173 per year.
San Diego Mesa College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. San Diego Mesa College is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,965.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #9 position for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $91,295 per year.
University Of California San Diego ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mathematics schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $70,456 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,626.
University Of California Irvine landed the #12 spot for mathematics salaries this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Mathematics graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of about $75,692 a year early in their careers.
College Of The Canyons came in at #13 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. College Of The Canyons is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from College Of The Canyons typically earn about $59,937 annually.
San Francisco State University came in at #14 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,911.
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #15 position for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $76,366 per year.
Pomona College came in at #16 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Pomona College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,712.
California State University Northridge placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,465.
Sonoma State University came in at #18 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Sonoma State University is a public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from Sonoma State University typically earn about $63,072 annually.
California State University Chico earned the #19 position for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $62,551 per year.
California State University Fullerton landed the #20 spot for mathematics salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Mathematics graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $44,903 a year early in their careers.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $66,222 annually.
California State University Sacramento came in at #22 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $63,062 annually.
California State University Long Beach earned the #23 position for mathematics graduate earnings this year. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Mathematics graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $59,026 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis came in at #24 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of California Davis make a median of around $62,895 per year.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #25 for mathematics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a public institution. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,031.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid mathematics ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their mathematics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 31 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.
