by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Statistics covers Statistics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Relationships Between Groups Of Measurements, And Similarities And Differences, Using Probability Theory And Techniques Derived From It. Includes Instruction In The Principles In Probability Theory, Binomial Distribution, Regression Analysis, Standard Deviation, Stochastic Processes, Monte Carlo Method, Bayesian Statistics, Non-Parametric Statistics, Sampling Theory, And Statistical Techniques. Continue reading for the key facts every statistics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering statistics programs.
In the U.S., statistics draws strong interest, with 7,709 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Statistics Schools ranking analyzes these 202 schools to determine the best overall colleges for statistics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of statistics programs later in this article.
Studies in Statistics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations statistics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a statistics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a statistics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several statistics degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,220 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,022 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 454 |
People currently working in careers related to statistics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.8% |
| Master’s degree | 22.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in statistics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying statistics opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to statistics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to statistics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Actuaries | 216,689 | -3.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 96,977 | 14.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of statistics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,565 |
| 4 years | $87,729 |
| 5 years | $105,293 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for statistics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers statistics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Survey Researchers | $108,538 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
With 202 different statistics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased statistics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in statistics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | 871 |
| Statistics, Other | 565 |
| Mathematical Statistics and Probability | 458 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
