The financial success of graduates is quite impressive!
According to recent data, the degree that brings in the highest earnings in the United States is mathematics from Duke University, with alumni raking in a median salary of almost $300,000. This figure, approximately $297,029 a year, applies to those who graduated four years ago, either in 2018 or 2019, based on federal earnings statistics.
Following closely, graduates with a computer science degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median income of $268,121, as indicated by data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard website.
In third place are those who majored in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering at Carnegie Mellon, earning about $250,168 shortly after graduation.
The University of Pennsylvania’s computer and science majors come in fourth, with a salary of $241,380.
One factor contributing to the lucrative outcomes for Duke’s math majors seems to be their diverse interests that go beyond mere calculations and formulas, according to insights from teachers and students.
“I don’t know any math major who was focused solely on math,” stated Faisal Alsaadi, a 2019 graduate who has been working with start-ups in Saudi Arabia. He also pursued a double major in math and economics.
Ezra Miller, a professor at Duke, mentioned the satisfaction he derives from mentoring young people in mathematical thinking, which they apply to a wide range of fields. He shared that three current students, who are double-majoring, recently excelled in an international math competition by creating models to enhance a soccer team’s performance.
Although math majors tend to secure well-paying jobs, Miller emphasized that financial gain isn’t the primary motivator for many of them. “It attracts individuals who are drawn to concepts of beauty and truth,” he noted.
On a slightly different note, Greg Herschlag, another professor of mathematics at Duke, argued that focusing on salary alone isn’t an ideal measure of graduates’ success. He suggested that the true value lies in the positive impact graduates have on society and how their efforts contribute to the well-being of others.
