by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Financial Mathematics involves the study of Financial Mathematics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Mathematics And Statistics To The Finance Industry, Including The Development, Critique, And Use Of Various Financial Models. Includes Instruction In Probability Theory, Statistical Analysis, Numerical Methods, Computation And Simulation Methods, Stochastic Processes, Economics, And Financial Markets And Applications. Examples: [Mathematical Finance], [Quantitative Finance], [Quantitative And Computational Finance]. Continue reading for the important information every financial mathematics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering financial mathematics programs.
In the U.S., financial mathematics is a popular field of study, with 5,335 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Financial Mathematics Schools ranking analyzes these 118 schools to determine the best overall colleges for financial mathematics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of financial mathematics programs later in this article.
Coursework for Financial Mathematics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations financial mathematics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a financial mathematics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a financial mathematics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several financial mathematics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 628 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,683 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 24 |
People currently working in careers related to financial mathematics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 56.4% |
| Master’s degree | 23.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in financial mathematics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in financial mathematics can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to financial mathematics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to financial mathematics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Specialists, All Other | 691,110 | 6.5% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 471,150 | -1.2% |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | 434,408 | -2.4% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | 358,631 | -0.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of financial mathematics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $69,764 |
| 4 years | $85,594 |
| 5 years | $100,060 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for financial mathematics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers financial mathematics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial Quantitative Analysts | $126,371 |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | $121,896 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
With 118 different financial mathematics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased financial mathematics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in financial mathematics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Applied Mathematics, General | 4,209 |
| Computational and Applied Mathematics | 824 |
| Computational Mathematics | 397 |
| Applied Mathematics, Other | 221 |
| Mathematical Biology | 16 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
