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Mathematics majors from Duke University earn the highest median salary of any college major in the United States at nearly $300,000 four years after graduation, according to federal data. This figure surpasses other high-earning fields like computer science and electrical engineering at top universities such as Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pennsylvania. The article highlights that Duke’s math majors often have interdisciplinary interests and motivations beyond financial gain, contributing to their success in various sectors.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mathematics graduates from Duke University are the highest earners in the United States, with a median income of nearly $300,000 four years after graduation. According to federal earnings figures from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard, computer science majors at Carnegie Mellon University earn second-highest, at $268,121, followed by electrical, electronics and communications engineering graduates from the same university earning $250,168. Duke's math majors often have diverse interests beyond just mathematics, potentially contributing to their high earnings. This highlights a shift in evaluating educational success not only based on personal financial gain but also on societal contribution and impact.
Written for “Math Majors Earnings” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The highest-earning degree in the United States is mathematics at Duke University — with graduates earning a staggering median income of nearly $300,000, new data shows.
asserted
data → earn → 300,000
The number-crunchers raked in the biggest paychecks — $297,029 annually — four years after graduating from the esteemed university in either 2018 or 2019, according to new federal earnings figures.
uncertain
crunchers → rake → figures
Grads who majored in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University were the second-highest earners with a median income of $268,121, the data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard website revealed.
asserted
data → major → website
The third-highest-paid major was electrical, electronics and communications engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, with grads earning $250,168 just four years after graduation.
asserted
grads → pay → graduation
Computer and science majors at the University of Pennsylvania placed fourth, earning $241,380.
asserted
majors → place → 241,380
One reason for Duke math majors’ success is they often have interests beyond just numbers and formulas, teachers and students told the New York Times.
asserted
teachers → have → Times
“I don’t know a single math major who was only doing math,” said Faisal Alsaadi, who graduated in 2019 and has worked at start-ups in Saudi Arabia.
asserted
who → know → Arabia
He said he double-majored in math and economics.
asserted
he → say → math
“I like it when I’m able to train young people to think mathematically and then they take it into every part of the world,” said Ezra Miller, a Duke professor.
asserted
Miller → like → world
Miller said three current undergraduates with double majors recently won an international math competition by building models to maximize a soccer team’s performance.
asserted
undergraduates → say → performance
While math majors often get good, high-earning jobs, that’s not always what motivates them, he added.
asserted
he → get → them
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → start → news
“It does also attract people who are interested in beauty and truth,” Miller said.
asserted
Miller → attract → beauty
However, Greg Herschlag, a Duke math professor, pointed out that paychecks aren’t the best way to measure grads’ success.
asserted
paychecks → point → success
“I would rather universities and departments be judged not simply by how well their graduates do for themselves, but by how much value they create for others: how much they contribute to society, who benefits from that labor and whether that work is improving people’s lives,” he said.
asserted
he → judge → lives
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