Navigating the World of Statistics: A Guide to the Best Undergraduate Programs

A degree in statistics is gaining popularity, ranking #85 out of 395 degrees nationally. This surge in interest creates a challenge: choosing the right school from a multitude of options. College Factual analyzed 103 schools, awarding 9,472 statistics degrees to qualified students. This article aims to guide prospective students through the selection process, highlighting top programs and key factors to consider.

How Top Statistics Programs Are Evaluated

Rankings for the best statistics programs are determined using publicly available information, primarily from the US Department of Education. Factors considered include the academic caliber of admitted students, expected career outcomes, and the institution's commitment to accessibility.

Top Universities for Statistics Degrees

Here's an overview of some of the best schools in the United States for statistics, based on available data:

1. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): Ranked #6 nationally, Johns Hopkins is a large private not-for-profit university. Approximately 89 statistics students graduated from Johns Hopkins in the most recent data year.
2. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): UPenn, ranked #2 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university located in a large city. Around 101 statistics students graduated in the most recent year with available data.
3. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA): Carnegie Mellon, ranked #8 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. About 233 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. Graduates from the statistics degree program at Carnegie Mellon University earn $20,362 more than the average college grad in this field shortly after graduation. Academic Highlights: CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 74% of recent grads were employed, and 17% were continuing to graduate school.
4. University of Chicago (Chicago, IL): UChicago, ranked #3 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. Around 366 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. Those statistics students who get their degree from University of Chicago earn $43,176 more than the average stats graduate. Academic Highlights: A 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio means that classrooms remain very intimate, and face time with the renowned faculty is a reality. Undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member. On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education.
5. Columbia University (New York, NY): Columbia, ranked #15 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. About 320 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the statistics degree program at Columbia University in the City of New York make $49,302 above the standard college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation. Columbia University is separated into 20 different schools which include the College, global research outposts, Juilliard School, Barnard College, and more.
6. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): Cornell, ranked #9 nationally, is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Ithaca. About 117 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. Statistics degree recipients from Cornell University earn a boost of around $9,782 above the typical earnings of statistics majors. At Cornell University, the most popular majors students study are Computer Science, Hotel/Motel Administration/Management, and Labor and Industrial Relations.
7. Duke University (Durham, NC): Duke, ranked #7 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. About 94 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. Academic Highlights: Class sizes are on the small side-74% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. All told, more than half of undergraduates conduct research. At graduation, approximately 76% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 17% continue into graduate schools, and 7% start their own businesses. Two schools at Duke University are devoted to undergraduates: Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering.
8. Washington University in St. Louis (Saint Louis, MO): WUSTL, ranked #21 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. Roughly 10 statistics students graduated in the most recent data year. At Washington University in St Louis, the most popular majors students study are Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, and Mechanical Engineering.
9. New York University (New York, NY): NYU, ranked #16 nationally, is a private not-for-profit university. Approximately 209 statistics students graduated in the most recent year with available data. Statistics degree recipients from New York University earn a boost of around $32,039 above the average income of statistics graduates.
10. Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Northwestern, ranked #5 nationally, is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. There were approximately 80 statistics students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the statistics major at Northwestern University make $5,168 more than the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation. At Northwestern University, the most popular majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, and Computer Science. Six months after graduating, 70% of the Class of 2023 had found employment and 25% were in graduate school. The university has a phenomenal 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and a spectacular 39% of class sections have nine or fewer students enrolled; 76% have fewer than twenty enrollees.
11. University of California - Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): UC Berkeley, ranked #14 nationally, is a fairly large public university. Approximately 178 statistics students graduated in the most recent year with available data. Statistics degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley earn a boost of around $10,478 above the typical earnings of statistics majors. Undergrads will encounter a mix of large lectures (20% of sections contain more than 50 students) and tiny, single-digit enrollments in seminar-style courses (21% of sections contain nine or fewer students). Plenty of undergraduate research opportunities exist, with many facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarships; 48% of students participate in research during their time at Berkeley. Upon graduating, 53% of Cal’s Class of 2023 had already secured employment, and 17% were headed to graduate school. The median starting salary was $94,000 across all majors. The school is the number one all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers.
12. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): U-M, ranked #22 nationally, is a very large public university. Roughly 166 statistics students graduated in the most recent year with available data. Graduates who receive their degree from the stats program make around $72,416 for their early career. Michigan sports a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 18% of classes contain 50 or more students, but a solid 53% of classes offer a more intimate experience with fewer than 20 students. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program draws in 1,300 participants each year who partner with 800+ research mentors. Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school. The median salary across all majors is approximately 70k.
13. University of California - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): UCLA is a public university. There were about 298 statistics students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, stats degree recipients usually earn an average of $59,718 at the beginning of their careers. Close to half of classrooms contain fewer than twenty Bruins, but those taking introductory courses will find themselves in a fair number of lecture halls with a hundred or more students. By the time they graduate, 45% of undergraduates have participated in a research experience. For graduates early in their careers, the median salary is $78,600, with mid-career median earnings reaching over $149k.
14. University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): University of Virginia is a public university. There were about 40 statistics students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available.
15. Tufts University (Medford, MA): Tufts is a large private not-for-profit university. There were approximately 14 statistics students who graduated with this degree at Tufts in the most recent year we have data available.
16. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL): UIUC is a public university. There were about 393 statistics students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Illinois’ student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1 is high even for a public institution, but the school still manages to keep 39% of sections capped at 19 students. 91% of recent UIUC grads landed at their next destination within six months of graduation, with 35% matriculating directly into an advanced degree program and 56% being employed full-time. The average salary across all majors was an extremely solid $76,000.
17. Boston University (Boston, MA): Boston U is a very large private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 60 statistics students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent data year.
18. Villanova University (Villanova, PA): Villanova is a private not-for-profit university. There were approximately 11 statistics students who graduated with this degree at Villanova in the most recent data year. At Villanova University, the most popular majors students pursue are Finance, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
19. Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): Purdue is a very large public university. There were about 266 statistics students who graduated with this degree at Purdue in the most recent year we have data available.

Other universities offering statistics programs include:

• Harvard University
• Emory University
• Yale University
• University of California-Santa Barbara
• Amherst College
• Rice University

The Growing Demand for Statisticians and Skills Developed

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 30% increase in the need for statisticians, highlighting it as one of the fastest-growing fields. This demand is driven by the increasing reliance on data across various industries. Majoring in statistics involves studying calculus, game theory, probability, differential equations, and linear modeling, equipping graduates with valuable analytical and problem-solving skills.

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Additional institutions and their popular majors:

• North Carolina State University grants about 918 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General.
• The University of Connecticut grants around 400 degrees to those majoring in Psychology, General.
• At the University of Florida, the most popular majors students pursue are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General.
• Annually, Carleton College awards around 69 degrees to students majoring in Computer Science.
• At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the most popular majors students study are Finance, General, Information Science/Studies, Psychology, and General.
• At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General.
• Every year, St Lawrence University awards about 72 degrees to students studying Psychology, General.
• Annually, Ohio State University-Main Campus awards around 794 degrees to students majoring in Finance, General.
• At Florida State University, the three most popular college majors students study are Psychology, General, Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General.
• Each year, South Dakota State University awards about 290 degrees to those majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
• At the University of Georgia, the most popular majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Finance, and General.
• Every year, Michigan State University awards around 497 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
• Amherst College has an open curriculum plan, which means there are no general education requirements for students.
• At Lake Forest College, the three most popular college majors students study are Business/Commerce, General, Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Finance, and General.
• At Miami University-Oxford, the three most popular college majors students study are Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Psychology, and General.
• At Grand Valley State University, the most popular majors students study are Psychology, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General.
• Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 480 degrees to those studying Computer Science.
• In 1969, Brown University removed general education requirements, allowing students to craft their own journey with the help of an advising network.
• Annually, Mount Holyoke College awards around 54 degrees to students studying Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
• Every year, the University of Missouri-Columbia awards around 792 degrees to those majoring in Business/Commerce, General.
• Each year, Temple University grants around 355 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General.
• At Lehigh University, the most popular majors students pursue are Finance, General, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering.
• At Butler University, the most popular majors students study are Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, and General.
• At Colby College, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government, General, and Neuroscience.
• Every year, the University of Illinois Chicago awards about 465 degrees to those studying Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
• Each year, Wake Forest University awards about 156 degrees to those studying Finance, General.
• At Barnard College, the most popular majors students pursue are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, and Neuroscience.
• Annually, the University of Vermont awards about 195 degrees to those studying Business Administration and Management, General.
• Each year, the University of Delaware awards about 273 degrees to those majoring in Finance, General.
• Every year, the University of South Carolina-Columbia grants around 435 degrees to students studying Public Health, General.
• Annually, Iowa State University grants about 356 degrees to those studying Mechanical Engineering.
• At the University of Minnesota Duluth, the most popular majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Mechanical Engineering.
• Each year, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grants about 526 degrees to those majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, General.
• Every year, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County awards around 327 degrees to students majoring in Computer Science.
• Every year, the University of St Thomas grants around 145 degrees to students majoring in Finance, General.
• Every year, the University of Iowa grants around 393 degrees to students studying Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
• At Connecticut College, the most popular majors students study are Psychology, General, Economics, General, Political Science and Government, and General.
• Each year, Michigan Technological University grants about 274 degrees to those studying Mechanical Engineering.
• Annually, George Mason University awards around 645 degrees to those studying Business/Commerce, General.
• Each year, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse grants around 220 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
• St. Annually, CUNY Hunter College awards about 620 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General.
• At Central Michigan University, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and Community Organization and Advocacy.
• Each year, the University at Buffalo awards around 693 degrees to those studying Business Administration and Management, General.
• Annually, Loyola University Chicago grants around 424 degrees to students majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
• Every year, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College grants around 891 degrees to students studying Finance, General.
• Annually, the University of Idaho awards about 117 degrees to those studying Psychology, General.
• At Valparaiso University, the most popular majors students pursue are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Psychology, and General.
• At SUNY Oneonta, the most popular majors students pursue are Elementary Education and Teaching, Psychology, General, and Business/Managerial Economics.
• Every year, Kansas State University awards around 211 degrees to those studying Animal Sciences, General.
• Annually, California State University-Long Beach grants around 1284 degrees to students majoring in Business Administration and Management, General.
• At Eastern Kentucky University, the most popular majors students pursue are Psychology, General, General Studies, and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration.
• Each year, the University of Wyoming awards around 158 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General.
• At Montana State University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business/Commerce, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Mechanical Engineering.
• At Xavier University of Louisiana, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Public Health, and General.
• At the University of Akron Main Campus, the most popular majors students pursue are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, and General.
• Each year, Northern Illinois University grants around 209 degrees to those studying Psychology, General.
• Every year, Western Michigan University grants around 212 degrees to those majoring in Finance, General.
• Every year, Eastern Michigan University grants around 335 degrees to students majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
• Every year, Utah State University awards around 326 degrees to students majoring in Economics, General.
• Annually, Vermont State University awards about 90 degrees to students majoring in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Program

• Faculty-to-student ratio: A lower ratio often indicates more personalized attention and smaller class sizes. For example, Rice offers a spectacularly intimate learning experience because boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1.
• Research opportunities: Many universities offer undergraduate research programs, allowing students to work alongside faculty on projects.
• Career outcomes: Consider the employment rates and average starting salaries of graduates from different programs.
• Location and environment: Think about whether you prefer a large city, a small town, or a suburban setting.
• Curriculum and specializations: Explore the specific courses offered and whether the program aligns with your interests within statistics. Amherst offers a “New Curriculum” that requires no specific courses or distribution of credits. Students have the flexibility to pursue their areas of passion and interest from the very start of their collegiate experience.

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