Statistics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Statistics is a rigorous discipline focused on the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data to support evidence-based decision-making across diverse fields. This program equips students with advanced quantitative reasoning skills and analytical tools essential for navigating complex datasets in research, industry, and public policy.
- Probability Theory: Explores the mathematical foundations of uncertainty, enabling students to model random phenomena and predict outcomes with precision.
- Statistical Inference: Teaches methods for drawing conclusions about populations from sample data, including hypothesis testing and confidence interval estimation.
- Regression Analysis: Focuses on modeling relationships between variables to understand trends, forecast outcomes, and assess the impact of key factors.
- Experimental Design: Covers strategies for planning studies and experiments to ensure valid, reliable, and efficient data collection.
- Applied Data Analysis: Emphasizes real-world implementation of statistical techniques using modern software and programming environments.
- Sampling Methods: Examines techniques for selecting representative subsets from larger populations to ensure accurate and generalizable results.
- Nonparametric Statistics: Introduces methods that do not rely on strict assumptions about data distribution, ideal for real-world data with irregular patterns.
- Time Series Analysis: Provides tools for analyzing data collected over time to identify trends, seasonal patterns, and forecast future values.
Statistics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Statistics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Statistics degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Actuaries and Statisticians. 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 207,830 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Actuaries 15-2011 | $125,770 | $75,240 - $206,430 | 28,340 | $60.47 |
| Statisticians 15-2041 | $103,300 | $60,390 - $170,700 | 29,800 | $49.66 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1022 | $79,350 | $48,150 - $161,020 | 48,820 | N/A |
Statistics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $77,380 in Vermont to $146,660 in California—a 90% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Jersey, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 207,830 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 Statistics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 31 institutions offering Statistics 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 Statistics is found at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (109 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (102 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (48 graduates), Miami University, Oxford (42 graduates), and University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (35 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 565 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
109 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
102 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
35 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Chapman University |
Other Award
|
26 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
17 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Thomas Edison State University (TESU) |
Master's
|
14 | Trenton, New Jersey | Public | tesu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Master's
|
14 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
10 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
9 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Master's
|
4 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Marshall University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Other Award
|
2 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Statistics programs
How much can I earn with a Statistics degree?
Salaries for Statistics graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Actuaries earn around $125,770. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $146,660 compared to $77,380 in Vermont. Approximately 207,830 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 Statistics programs?
Currently 31 accredited institutions offer Statistics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (109 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (102 graduates), and University of California (UCSD), San Diego (48 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 Statistics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 65 in 2010 to a peak of 618 in 2020, before declining slightly to 565 in 2023-24. This represents a 769% 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 Statistics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Actuaries, and Statisticians. Related occupations employ approximately 207,830 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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