20 Best Colleges for Statistics Degrees 2020
This list presents the 25 best colleges for statistics degrees using alumni earning and median debt data. Harvard University tops the list with a median annual salary of $126,100 for statistics graduates in their first year of employment. Carnegie Mellon and University of Chicago are ranked second and third, respectively, for their high earning potential.
Tuition, median salaries, and median debt were reported by the U.S. Department of Education in November 2019. View our methodology for more details about these rankings or read more about the top-ranked schools.
2020 Best Colleges Highlights
Learn more about the top colleges for a Bachelor's in Statistics degree. You can also read student reviews of each school by clicking on the stars. Although student reviews were not used as a ranking factor in this list, we provide ratings and reviews so students can consider the experience of alumni in their decision-making process.
The Bachelor of Arts in Statistics at Harvard University offers students the opportunity to concentrate their studies in one of four tracks tailored to their academic and career goals. The program curriculum focuses on providing students a theoretical foundation in data analysis, experiment design, variability modeling, and the conceptual and practical tools to understand and quantify uncertainty. Students graduate from the program ready to apply their skills and knowledge in statistics in a variety of fields, including science, business, law, and education.
Harvard offers four concentrations, including a general education in statistics, data science, bioinformatics and computational biology (BCB), and quantitative finance. The general education track provides instruction in the framework theories, methods, and applications in statistics. Data science combines statistics and computer science, providing students an in-depth understanding of the computational methods of statistics. The BCB concentration focuses on the use of statistics and computation in biology, particularly in collecting, mapping, and storing genetic information. Quantitative finance prepares students for careers in financing, insurance modeling, and actuary work. Any of the four concentrations in this statistics degree program provides students the foundational education in statistics to continue their studies in graduate school.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University can create a concentration unique to their academic and career ambitions. This individualized program of study educates students for potential opportunities in one of the many fields in which statisticians are needed, including science, law, computer technology, finance, and business. The program curriculum is built around statistical theory and data analysis, with coursework in probability, prediction, analyzing and interpreting data, experiment design, and theory validation. Graduates of the statistics program at Carnegie Mellon have gone on to work at the National Economic Research Association, Boeing, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs.
The self-defined concentration area track allows students the opportunity to combine their studies in statistics with coursework in a field they intend to pursue following graduation or in graduate school. With advisor approval, students complete four courses outside the statistics degree program, often in science, technology, or business disciplines. Carnegie Mellon is distinguished for its research contributions, and students are encouraged to participate in real-world projects with department faculty.
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics at the University of Chicago emphasizes the mathematical and computational components of the discipline and the use of statistics in the natural and social sciences. Students graduate from the program with a well-rounded education in the key elements of statistical theory and practice, including data analysis and interpretation, experiment, survey, and observational program design, and uncertainty modeling.
The program curriculum centers on the concepts and applications in statistics and math, including instruction in statistical models and methods, calculus, linear algebra, optimization, numerical analysis, applied regression analysis, and probability. Coursework in computer science is also required, in addition to three sequential courses in a discipline in which statistical analysis is used. This sequence is most often in the natural or social sciences, including biology, psychology, chemistry, or physics. With advisor approval, however, students in the statistics degree program may choose a different discipline tailored to their academic and career goals.
The Bachelor of Arts in Statistics at the University of California — Berkeley (UC Berkeley) offers students a concentrated curriculum in the discipline with options to pursue a tailored plan of study. In addition to taking individualized electives, students are educated in the theoretical fundamentals and practical applications of statistics. Core coursework includes statistical computing and modeling, data analysis and interpretation, probability theory, and statistical reasoning. Foundational coursework combined with personalized electives provides graduates the opportunity to work as statisticians in a variety of fields.
UC Berkeley requires students in the statistics degree program to complete at least three applied cluster courses outside the statistics department. This cluster allows students the opportunity to more clearly define their intended career path. Acceptable courses typically fall within the natural or social sciences, engineering, computer science, or business disciplines, though clusters can be further personalized with advisor approval. The department also provides course guidelines for those interested in pursuing graduate study or a career in teaching statistics.
The Bachelor of Science in Statistics: Statistical Science concentration at Brigham Young University (BYU) is designed for students intending to pursue graduate study. The curriculum is concentrated in the essential fundamentals of modern big data and analytics, with a combined focus on statistics and computer science. Graduates of the statistics degree program are prepared to further their education with foundational and advanced coursework in probability, variance, regression, programming, operating systems, data analysis, and experimental design.
BYU also offers several other statistics concentrations for students who want to enter the workforce after graduation or go on to pursue graduate study, including Biostatistics and Applied Statistics & Analytics.
BYU offers students the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and techniques through several internships. Internships are offered with both local and national government agencies and professional organizations. Graduates have gone on to apply their knowledge and skills at jobs with Adobe, Qualtrics, and the Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.