Mathematicsat Rice University
Graduates earn $50,286/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Mathematics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $547K; scenarios range from $500K to $554K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rice University
Your mathematics degree from Rice places you among a select group with exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills. While initial earnings might appear slightly below the national average for all math programs, this often reflects a significant proportion of graduates pursuing advanced degrees – PhDs in mathematics, statistics, or related fields, or master's programs in data science, finance, or engineering. These paths, common for graduates from elite programs like Rice, lead to highly specialized, lucrative roles in the long term, even if immediate post-undergrad salaries are lower or deferred.
Houston's diverse economy offers unique opportunities, from quantitative analysis in the energy sector and biostatistics at the Texas Medical Center, to aerospace applications with NASA. Regarding AI risk, your deep theoretical foundation uniquely positions you to *develop* and *lead* in AI, rather than be replaced by it. Focus on internships that apply your skills to real-world data challenges, demonstrating your ability to build and innovate.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Rice University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Mathematics
How Rice University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rice University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rice University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Mathematics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Mathematics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Mathematics at Rice University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mathematics at Rice University?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Mathematics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Mathematics careers?
With 65% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $499,629 in decade earnings vs $554,133 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Rice University a hidden gem for Mathematics?
After financial aid, the average student pays $50,560 over four years — 78% below the $232,512 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.