by our College Data Analytics TeamFind out the key facts every applied statistics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering applied statistics programs.
Across the country, applied statistics is a popular field of study, with 572 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Applied Statistics Schools ranking analyzes these 31 schools to determine the best overall colleges for applied statistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of applied statistics programs later in this article.
Studies in Applied Statistics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations applied statistics graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a applied statistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a applied statistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several applied statistics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 110 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 446 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to applied statistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 56.0% |
| Master’s degree | 22.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in applied statistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in applied statistics can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to applied statistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to applied statistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Actuaries | 216,689 | -3.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
Salaries for applied statistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers applied statistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Survey Researchers | $108,538 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
With 31 different applied statistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased applied statistics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in applied statistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Applied Statistics, General | 572 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25,518 |
| Applied Mathematics | 11,002 |
| Statistics | 9,603 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | 575 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
