by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn the essential details every mathematical economics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering mathematical economics programs.
Nationwide, mathematical economics draws strong interest, with 141 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Mathematical Economics Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for mathematical economics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mathematical economics programs later in this article.
Studies in Mathematical Economics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations mathematical economics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a mathematical economics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a mathematical economics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several mathematical economics 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 | 120 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to mathematical economics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.9% |
| Master’s degree | 24.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in mathematical economics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying mathematical economics opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to mathematical economics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to mathematical economics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | 434,408 | -2.4% |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | 358,631 | -0.2% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Mathematicians | 109,873 | 8.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Salaries for mathematical economics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers mathematical economics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Bioinformatics Technicians | $121,896 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Economists | $73,611 |
With 10 different mathematical economics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased mathematical economics school rankings to help you.
Those considering mathematical economics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematical Economics | 141 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30,141 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 28,033 |
| Data Analytics | 12,891 |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10,355 |
| Data Science | 7,716 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5,740 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 5,456 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 5,391 |
| Sustainability Studies | 4,374 |
| Cognitive Science | 3,121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
