by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Mathematics involves the study of Mathematics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Analysis Of Quantities, Magnitudes, Forms, And Their Relationships, Using Symbolic Logic And Language. Includes Instruction In Algebra, Calculus, Functional Analysis, Geometry, Number Theory, Logic, Topology And Other Mathematical Specializations. Continue reading for the key facts every general mathematics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general mathematics programs.
Nationwide, general mathematics is a widely-pursued major, with 25,163 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Mathematics Schools ranking analyzes these 1,305 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general mathematics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general mathematics programs later in this article.
Studies in General Mathematics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general mathematics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a general mathematics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general mathematics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,427 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17,066 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,499 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,165 |
People currently working in careers related to general mathematics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.9% |
| Master’s degree | 22.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general mathematics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general mathematics opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general mathematics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general mathematics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | 434,408 | -2.4% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | 358,631 | -0.2% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general mathematics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,386 |
| 4 years | $65,097 |
| 5 years | $75,512 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general mathematics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general mathematics 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 |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | $121,896 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
With 1,305 different general mathematics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general mathematics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general mathematics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematics, Other | 352 |
| Topology and Foundations | 2 |
| Algebra and Number Theory | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
