Statistics graduates earn $92,425 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 34.6%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Data Scientist is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Statistics as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Mathematics and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Statistics is a focused area of study within Mathematics. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $92,425 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 281 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 9,944 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$60,216
Median Earnings · 4yr
$92,425
Colleges Offering
281
Graduates / Year
9,944
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,209
How Much Do Statistics Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Statistics, a typical graduate earns $92,425, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $64,564 and $125,467, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $60,216 at one year out to $92,425 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$92,425
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$87,334
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Statistics graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$64,56425th pct.
$92,425Median
$125,46775th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $92,425 against an estimated $76,836 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 217 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 9,944 students who complete Statistics programs each year, the majority (55%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
55%38%
Bachelor's55%
Master's38%
Doctorate6%
What Can You Do With a Statistics Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Statistics graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Judgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingMathematicsReading ComprehensionSystems Evaluation
Day-to-day responsibilities
Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Ascertain premium rates required and cash reserves and liabilities necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Collaborate with programmers, underwriters, accounts, claims experts, and senior management to help companies develop plans for new lines of business or improvements to existing business.
Analyze statistical information to estimate mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates.
Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.
Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.
Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.
MathematicsMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.
Analyze and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.
Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete mathematics.
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews.
Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results.
Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples.
Top Colleges for Statistics
Not sure where to study Statistics? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Statistics graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Mathematics Programs
Statistics is not the only path through Mathematics: 4 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Statistics program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Statistics a solid option. The 4 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $92,425 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $60,216 at graduation to $92,425 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +34.6% over the next decade, with Data Scientist among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 41,900 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Statistics Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Statistics graduates earn?
$92,425 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $64,564 and $125,467, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Statistics degree?
$60,216 in the first year out. That grows to $92,425 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Statistics degree?
Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Statistics program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Statistics bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Statistics?
281 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Statistics degree worth it?
$92,425 median earnings four years out against $19,209 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Statistics and Mathematics?
Statistics is the narrower of the two: Mathematics covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Statistics-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Statistics graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Statistics graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Statistics graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Statistics graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +10.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Data Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +34.6%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Mathematics Programs
Other programs in Mathematics. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
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Major choice
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