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Mathematics · Statistics Rank #41 of 51

Statisticsat Northwestern University

Graduates earn $77,917/yr in their first year — about 23.0% above the national Statistics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $750K; scenarios range from $624K to $776K depending on AI disruption.

Evanston, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
47 AVERAGE
48
Optimistic
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$77,917
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$750K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
64% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Northwestern University

Your Northwestern Statistics degree carries significant weight due to the university's rigorous academics and prestigious reputation. This translates directly into highly competitive recruitment from major finance, consulting, and tech firms centered in Chicago and beyond. Employers actively seek out graduates from programs like yours for their analytical depth and problem-solving capabilities, fostering robust early-career opportunities and a strong alumni network that further opens doors.

While the data highlights a very high AI risk, for a Northwestern graduate, this isn't about job displacement but rather career evolution. Your strong foundational understanding of statistical theory makes you uniquely positioned to design, implement, and manage the very AI systems transforming these fields. To thrive, actively pursue interdisciplinary coursework in computer science or business analytics and secure internships applying your skills to real-world data challenges.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$624K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$750K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$776K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Northwestern University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Statistics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Actuaries
+21.8% 10-yr growth · 2,400 openings/yr
$125,770/yr
High
3
Mathematicians
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$121,680/yr
Very High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 4,400 openings/yr
$79,350/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Statistics

How Northwestern University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
68
DW Score
$141K
1-yr earn
8.7x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$130K
1-yr earn
3.9x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$97K
1-yr earn
3.6x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$93K
1-yr earn
5.1x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
75
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
23.5x
ROI
Also at Northwestern University

Other top programs at Northwestern University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northwestern University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Statistics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Statistics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Statistics at Northwestern University

What does a 47/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Statistics at Northwestern University?

At 47/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Statistics programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Statistics at Northwestern University?

The 64% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Statistics at Northwestern University?

The 59% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $263,988. At a net cost of $108,572, the earnings multiple improves substantially.