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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the early-career earnings of their mathematics graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose mathematics graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 for mathematics graduate salaries in North Carolina. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Early-career mathematics graduates from Duke University make a median of around $131,658 per year.
Wake Forest University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mathematics schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from Wake Forest University typically earn about $113,570 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #3 place for mathematics. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill typically earn about $101,719 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in mathematics will find them at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,638.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #5 place for mathematics. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte make a median of around $68,817 per year.
Appalachian State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mathematics schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. After graduating, mathematics degree recipients from Appalachian State University typically earn about $61,271 annually.
East Carolina University landed the #7 spot for mathematics salaries this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Mathematics graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $53,015 a year early in their careers.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mathematics schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $43,585 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville landed the #9 spot for mathematics salaries this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public institution. Students who complete the mathematics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,282.
Western Carolina University landed the #10 spot for mathematics salaries this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career mathematics graduates from Western Carolina University make a median of around $43,145 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for mathematics. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Mathematics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of about $53,880 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 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.