To date, we’ve asked 196 current and past mathematics students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

There’s likely at least a few majors you could see yourself in.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a mathematics 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 degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are mathematics students compared to other degrees?

Overall, mathematics students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.4 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, mathematics students rate their happiness similarly to students in Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Science and Social Work.

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

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Public Policy$91,555
Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology$50,452
Interdisciplinary Studies$70,437
Mathematics$78,694
Environmental Science$57,595
Social Work$43,139
Economics$106,098
Romance Language Studies$57,482

Let's break that down further.

Are mathematics 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:
4.2 out of 5 stars
238 ratings
5 stars
49%
4 stars
29%
3 stars
14%
2 stars
5%
1 stars
3%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in mathematics 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 graduates leave school with good job prospects?

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

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
3.5 out of 5 stars
226 ratings
5 stars
21%
4 stars
31%
3 stars
31%
2 stars
10%
1 stars
5%

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

Were mathematics 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:
3.4 out of 5 stars
196 ratings
5 stars
24%
4 stars
27%
3 stars
25%
2 stars
13%
1 stars
10%

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.

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

Read about Career Paths