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Mathematics · Applied Mathematics Rank #1 of 44

Applied Mathematicsat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Graduates earn $75,105/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Applied Mathematics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,035K; scenarios range from $816K to $1,096K depending on AI disruption.

Chapel Hill, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
78 STRONG
79
Optimistic
74
Pessimistic
Earnings
$75,105
1-year post-graduation
ROI
31.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$1,035K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
60% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Your strong earnings potential from UNC's Applied Mathematics program isn't just about the rigorous curriculum; it's significantly boosted by the university's elite reputation and its prime location within the Research Triangle Park. This puts you at the doorstep of leading employers in tech, biotech, financial services, and consulting, all actively seeking graduates with sophisticated analytical and problem-solving skills. Companies like SAS, Fidelity, and numerous startups regularly recruit from UNC, valuing the deep quantitative foundation you'll build. While some analytical tasks face high AI risk, your degree equips you for roles in developing and managing these AI systems, not just performing routine calculations. Focus your studies on computational methods and interdisciplinary applications to ensure your skills remain at the cutting edge.

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
$816K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple22.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,035K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple28.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,096K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score79/100
Earnings Multiple30.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Applied Mathematics 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
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
6
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/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 Applied Mathematics

How University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
70
DW Score
$114K
1-yr earn
6.5x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
68
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Stevens Institute of Technology
NJ · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
3.0x
ROI
Northwestern University
IL · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Also at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Applied Mathematics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

How does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Applied Mathematics program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Applied Mathematics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Applied Mathematics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Applied Mathematics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 61% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank so high for Applied Mathematics?

The #1 ranking out of 44 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.