by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you ever wonder who make the tough decisions in business? Who decides where investment will go, if employees can be hired or prices altered? Students who major in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods will learn how to use business and scientific techniques in order to make decisions, design systems, and solve problems for business.
Be prepared to study applications of data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting and operations, and statistical modeling in order to research these problems for various organizations.
There are two concentrations within this major: Business Statistics, and Actuarial Science. While focusing on this major, you will be taking courses in systems analysis and design, research methods, finance, statistics, marketing, and business administration and management.
A degree in Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods explores Management Sciences And Quantitative Methods. Read on to learn the essential details every management sciences & quantitative methods student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering management sciences & quantitative methods programs.
Across the country, management sciences & quantitative methods draws strong interest, with 62,236 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools ranking analyzes these 540 schools to determine the best overall colleges for management sciences & quantitative methods students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of management sciences & quantitative methods programs later in this article.
Studies in Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations management sciences & quantitative methods graduates commonly enter.
This is a great major a student with an analytical mind who loves solving problems. In your college work, as well as your career, you will be faced with a number of complex issues that you will need to use creativity and logic to overcome. Many of your projects will involve group work. Learn to improve your communication skills to achieve success.
Being comfortable with computers and technology will also help you. There is opportunity to gain a Master in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods if you decide to further your education.
Skills emphasized by a management sciences & quantitative methods program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a management sciences & quantitative methods major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several management sciences & quantitative methods degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 156 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 112 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13,758 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 47,850 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 350 |
People currently working in careers related to management sciences & quantitative methods tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.9% |
| Master’s degree | 29.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in management sciences & quantitative methods careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are a few different career options for graduates with a degree in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. They find work in a variety of companies doing research, improving efficiency and developing better work systems.
Some jobs that graduates work at are Computer Systems Analysts, Operations Research Analysts, Statisticians, Management Consultants, and Financial Analysis. All of these career options work with businesses to solve problems and create strategies to better their company. You will be working closely with different management teams and working with their data and software.
Studying management sciences & quantitative methods opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to management sciences & quantitative methods.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to management sciences & quantitative methods.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of management sciences & quantitative methods graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $88,001 |
| 4 years | $83,500 |
| 5 years | $95,189 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers management sciences & quantitative methods grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Insurance Underwriters | $129,939 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Survey Researchers | $108,538 |
With 540 different management sciences & quantitative methods programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased management sciences & quantitative methods school rankings to help you.
Those considering management sciences & quantitative methods, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Management Science | 34,245 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 21,232 |
| Business Statistics | 5,396 |
| Actuarial Science | 1,363 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 402,942 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 81,835 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 57,976 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 57,564 |
| Marketing | 53,750 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 25,424 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 16,153 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 14,306 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,333 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,092 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
