Math and physical sciences: every university, ranked by pay
Mathematics at Northwestern University
Bachelor's degree · Evanston, Illinois · 129 graduates in two years
What do Northwestern mathematics graduates earn?
Median yearly pay of graduates who had federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Hidden where too few graduates to publish.
What does it take to get into Northwestern?
Admission is to the university, not the program, at most US schools.
How much does Northwestern cost?
Sticker price for a year, and what students actually paid after grants.
The cost by family income, debt and who finishes are on Northwestern's page.
What careers does Mathematics lead to?
Careers people reach through this field, each with its pay, training and what the work is like.
- ActuaryPut a price on risk. A math degree, a long ladder of exams, and a median of $130,000 a year.$130kTypical pay7 to 12 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- StatisticianDesign the study, run the numbers, and say honestly how sure you are.$106kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- PhysicistWork out how the universe behaves, then prove it. Almost everyone in this job holds a doctorate.$172kTypical pay9 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- AgronomistThe science of soil and crops. You tell farmers what to plant, what to feed it and why the yield dropped.$79kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- Aquaculture TechnicianRaise fish and shellfish for food. Outdoors, on the water, in a small industry the country keeps saying it wants to grow.$50kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
- AstronomerStudy stars, planets and galaxies for a living. A median of $128,820 a year, very few jobs, and a long road through a doctorate.$129kTypical pay9 to 14 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
Mathematics at other universities
The same program elsewhere, Illinois first, then the best paid.
| University | Pay, five years out | Debt | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of ChicagoIllinois | $171,304 | $12,000 | 5% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIllinois | $81,375 | $18,487 | 42% |
| Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts | $201,041 | Hidden | 5% |
| Amherst CollegeMassachusetts | $172,920 | $12,000 | 9% |
| Tufts UniversityMassachusetts | $160,936 | $17,500 | 12% |
| Dartmouth CollegeNew Hampshire | $156,136 | $12,500 | 5% |
| Cornell UniversityNew York | $155,471 | $11,235 | 9% |
| Williams CollegeMassachusetts | $151,064 | $10,258 | 8% |
| Johns Hopkins UniversityMaryland | $150,482 | Hidden | 6% |
| Vanderbilt UniversityTennessee | $142,158 | $18,000 | 6% |
| Boston CollegeMassachusetts | $132,520 | $19,000 | 16% |
| Columbia UniversityNew York | $129,413 | Hidden | 4% |
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Pay is the median for graduates who received federal aid, measured one and five years after finishing; debt is the median federal loan balance at graduation.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with Northwestern University. Figures describe past students.