To date, we’ve asked 296 current and past mathematics and statistics students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

Of the many factors that go into choosing a major, degree satisfaction is an important one.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a mathematics and statistics degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a mathematics and statistics degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are mathematics and statistics students compared to other degrees?

Overall, mathematics and statistics students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.5 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, mathematics and statistics students rate their happiness similarly to students in Statistics, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies and Visual Communication.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to mathematics and statistics

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Sociology$54,266
Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies$62,416
Statistics$82,680
Mathematics and Statistics$82,067
Visual Communication$56,084
Art Studies$49,853
Psychology$50,220
Computer Science$93,123
Computer Science and Related Studies$93,123

Let's break that down further.

Are mathematics and statistics students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
20 ratings
5 stars
40%
4 stars
30%
3 stars
25%
2 stars
0%
1 stars
0%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
359 ratings
5 stars
43%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
16%
2 stars
5%
1 stars
3%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in mathematics and statistics experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did mathematics and statistics graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what mathematics and statistics grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
3.6 out of 5 stars
343 ratings
5 stars
23%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
29%
2 stars
10%
1 stars
4%

We can see there’s a cluster of positive responses, which might indicate a strong or growing job market.

Were mathematics and statistics students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.5 out of 5 stars
296 ratings
5 stars
24%
4 stars
26%
3 stars
29%
2 stars
12%
1 stars
8%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Overview

Discover what you’ll learn—and what you can do after you graduate.

Read about Overview