Duke University math majors earn highest median salary

Mathematics is the highest-earning college major in the United States, according to new federal earnings data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. Graduates from Duke University majoring in mathematics reported a median annual income of $297,029 four years after graduation.

Other high-earning programs include computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, which saw median incomes of $268,121, and electrical, electronics, and communications engineering at the same institution, earning $250,168. Computer and science majors at the University of Pennsylvania ranked fourth with a median income of $241,380.

Faculty and alumni suggest that the success of math majors often stems from interdisciplinary interests, such as double-majoring in fields like economics.