Mathematics and Computer Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
This interdisciplinary program integrates advanced mathematical theory with core principles of computer science, equipping students with analytical and computational skills essential for solving complex real-world problems. It fosters a deep understanding of logical reasoning, algorithmic design, and quantitative modeling, preparing graduates for dynamic careers in technology, research, and data-driven industries.
- Discrete Mathematics: Explores mathematical structures that are fundamentally discrete rather than continuous, forming the foundation for algorithm design, cryptography, and computational logic.
- Algorithms and Data Structures: Focuses on efficient methods for organizing, processing, and retrieving data, critical for developing high-performance software systems.
- Computational Theory: Investigates the limits of computation, including automata, formal languages, and the classification of problems by complexity.
- Mathematical Modeling: Applies mathematical techniques to represent, analyze, and predict behavior in diverse systems such as biological networks, financial markets, and engineering processes.
- Programming and Software Development: Emphasizes practical coding skills, software architecture, and best practices in building scalable and maintainable applications.
- Linear Algebra and Numerical Analysis: Provides tools for working with vector spaces and matrices, essential for machine learning, computer graphics, and scientific computing.
- Probability and Statistics: Develops methods for analyzing uncertainty, making data-driven decisions, and evaluating the reliability of computational models.
Mathematics and Computer Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Mathematics and Computer Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Mathematics and Computer Science degrees, including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Natural Sciences Managers and Software Developers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,166,040 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers 11-3021 | $171,200 | $104,450 - $239,200 | 645,970 | $82.31 |
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Software Developers 15-1252 | $133,080 | $79,850 - $211,450 | 1,654,440 | $63.98 |
| Mathematicians 15-2021 | $121,680 | $63,430 - $187,660 | 2,220 | $58.50 |
| Data Scientists 15-2051 | $112,590 | $63,650 - $194,410 | 233,440 | $54.13 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other 15-1299 | $108,970 | $52,650 - $176,800 | 439,380 | $52.39 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1021 | $96,690 | $48,910 - $172,380 | 36,240 | N/A |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1022 | $79,350 | $48,150 - $161,020 | 48,820 | N/A |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other 15-2099 | $71,490 | $40,330 - $154,140 | 4,660 | $34.37 |
Mathematics and Computer Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,529 in Mississippi to $159,907 in California—a 87% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,166,040 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Mathematics and Computer Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 75 institutions offering Mathematics and Computer Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Mathematics and Computer Science is found at University of California (UCSD), San Diego (358 graduates), The University of Texas, Arlington (155 graduates), Santa Clara University (SCU) (94 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (83 graduates), and George Mason University (78 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,604 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
358 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
155 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
|
94 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) |
Master's
|
58 | Springfield, Illinois | Public | uis.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Master's
|
54 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Harvey Mudd College (HMC) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Claremont, California | Private | hmc.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Master's
|
25 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
|
24 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Rockland Community College (RCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Suffern, New York | Public | sunyrockland.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Master's
|
13 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Other Award
|
11 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Clark University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | clarku.edu |
| Lewis & Clark College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Portland, Oregon | Private | lclark.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSB) |
Master's
|
8 | South Bend, Indiana | Public | iusb.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Reed College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Portland, Oregon | Private | reed.edu |
| Mercyhurst University |
Master's
|
8 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | mercyhurst.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | vwu.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Master's
|
6 | Houston, Texas | Private | stthom.edu |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Pasadena, California | Private | caltech.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Richard Bland College (RBC) |
Associate's
|
5 | South Prince George, Virginia | Public | rbc.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
4 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Christian Brothers University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | cbu.edu |
| Randolph College (RC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | randolphcollege.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| Converse University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | converse.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Whittier College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Whittier, California | Private | whittier.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| University of St Francis (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Joliet, Illinois | Private | stfrancis.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| LeTourneau University (LETU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Longview, Texas | Private | letu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| Scripps College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | scrippscollege.edu |
| Dordt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Sioux Center, Iowa | Private | dordt.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
1 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Southern Oregon University (SOU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Ashland, Oregon | Public | sou.edu |
| Chestnut Hill College (CHC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | chc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Other Award
|
1 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Mathematics and Computer Science programs
How much can I earn with a Mathematics and Computer Science degree?
Salaries for Mathematics and Computer Science graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn a median of $171,200 annually, while Natural Sciences Managers earn around $161,180. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $159,907 compared to $85,529 in Mississippi. Approximately 3,166,040 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Mathematics and Computer Science programs?
Currently 76 accredited institutions offer Mathematics and Computer Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSD), San Diego (358 graduates), The University of Texas, Arlington (155 graduates), and Santa Clara University (SCU) (94 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Mathematics and Computer Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 189 in 2010 to 1,604 in 2023-24. This represents a 749% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Mathematics and Computer Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Systems Managers, Natural Sciences Managers, and Software Developers. Related occupations employ approximately 3,166,040 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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