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Mathematical sciences professor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a mathematical sciences professor. Mathematical sciences professors usually study chemistry, mathematics, or biology. 50% of mathematical sciences professors hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 47 real mathematical sciences professor resumes to see exactly what mathematical sciences professor education sections show.

The most common colleges for mathematical sciences professors are the The University of Alabama and the The University of Alabama.

There are also many online mathematical sciences professor courses to help get the education required to be a mathematical sciences professor.

What education do you need to become a mathematical sciences professor?

What degree do you need to be a mathematical sciences professor?

The most common degree for mathematical sciences professors is bachelor's degree, with 50% of mathematical sciences professors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 25% and master's degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 50%
  • Master's, 25%
  • Doctorate, 13%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a mathematical sciences professor?

You should major in chemistry to become a mathematical sciences professor. 18% of mathematical sciences professors major in chemistry. Other common majors for a mathematical sciences professor include mathematics and biology.

Most common colleges for mathematical sciences professors

Mathematical sciences professors often get their degrees at The University of Alabama, Mayville State University, and Southern Connecticut State University. Here are the most common colleges for mathematical sciences professors in the US based on their resumes.
Mathematical sciences professor common collegePercentages
The University of Alabama9.09%
Mayville State University9.09%
Southern Connecticut State University4.55%
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico4.55%
Le Moyne College4.55%

Best majors for mathematical sciences professors

RankMajorPercentages
1Chemistry17.6%
2Mathematics11.8%
3Biology8.8%
4Educational Leadership8.8%
5Psychology5.9%

Best colleges for mathematical sciences professors

The best colleges for mathematical sciences professors are Columbia University in the City of New York, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

A mathematical sciences professor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for mathematical sciences professors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become mathematical sciences professors.

1. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

10. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

20 best online courses for mathematical sciences professors

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1. Mathematics for Machine Learning and Data Science

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Mathematics for Machine Learning and Data Science is a foundational online program created by DeepLearning.AI and taught by Luis Serrano. This beginner-friendly Specialization is where you’ll master the fundamental mathematics toolkit of machine learning.\n\nMany machine learning engineers and data scientists need help with mathematics, and even experienced practitioners can feel held back by a lack of math skills. This Specialization uses innovative pedagogy in mathematics to help you learn...

2. Constructivism and Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

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This course is designed to help participants examine the implications of constructivism for learning and teaching in science, mathematics, and technology focused areas. Course readings, discussions, and assignments will examine constructivist views of learning, research on students' ideas and idea-based interactions, research on instructional approaches taking student ideas into account, and challenges in implementing constructivist perspectives in instruction...

3. Linear Algebra for Data Science & Machine Learning - Math

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Complete linear algebra - Mathematics for data science, machine learning & Deep Learning - Math for Data Science Algebra...

4. The Data Science Course: Complete Data Science Bootcamp 2023

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4.6
(130,823)

Complete Data Science Training: Mathematics, Statistics, Python, Advanced Statistics in Python, Machine & Deep Learning...

5. Mathematics for Machine Learning

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For a lot of higher level courses in Machine Learning and Data Science, you find you need to freshen up on the basics in mathematics - stuff you may have studied before in school or university, but which was taught in another context, or not very intuitively, such that you struggle to relate it to how it’s used in Computer Science. This specialization aims to bridge that gap, getting you up to speed in the underlying mathematics, building an intuitive understanding, and relating it to Machine...

6. Mathematics for Computer Science

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“Welcome to Introduction to Numerical Mathematics. This is designed to give you part of the mathematical foundations needed to work in computer science in any of its strands, from business to visual digital arts, music, games. At any stage of the problem solving and modelling stage you will require numerical and computational tools. We get you started in binary and other number bases, some tools to make sense of sequences of numbers, how to represent space numerical using coordinates, how to...

7. Complete Mathematics Masterclass: College & University Level

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4.8
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All the Applied Mathematics Needed in Science, Programming, Engineering, IT & Business - Theory, Examples & Exercises...

8. Discrete Mathematics

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Master Discrete Math for Computer Science and Mathematics Students...

9. English for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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Welcome to English for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate." If you want to get a Coursera Verified Certificate for free, please fill out the Financial Aid form. This course is designed for non-native...

10. Mathematics for Engineers

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This specialization was developed for engineering students to self-study engineering mathematics. We expect students to already be familiar with single variable calculus and computer programming. Through this specialization, students will learn matrix algebra, differential equations, vector calculus, numerical methods, and MATLAB programming. This will provide them with the tools to effectively apply mathematics to engineering problems and be well-equipped to pursue a degree in engineering. To...

11. Statistics & Mathematics for Data Science & Data Analytics

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4.6
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Learn the statistics & probability for data science and business analysis...

12. Data Science with Python Complete Course

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Data Science 2021 : Complete Data Science...

13. Linear Algebra for Data Science Using Python

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This Specialization is for learners interested in exploring or pursuing careers in data science or understanding some data science for their current roles. This course will build upon your previous mathematical foundations and equip you with key applied tools for using and analyzing large data sets...

14. Expressway to Data Science: Essential Math

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Data Science is growing rapidly, creating opportunities for careers across a variety of fields. This specialization is designed for learners embarking on careers in Data Science. Learners are provided with a concise overview of the foundational mathematics that are critical in Data Science. Topics include algebra, calculus, linear algebra, and some pertinent numerical analysis. Expressway to Data Science is also an excellent primer for students preparing to complete CU Boulder’s Master of...

15. Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning

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Essential Linear Algebra and Calculus Hands-On in Num Py, Tensor Flow, and Py Torch...

16. Math for Data Science Masterclass

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Learn about probability, statistics, and more using the mathematics that are foundational to the field of data science...

17. SQL Mathematical Functions

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Welcome to this project-based course, SQL Mathematical Functions. In this project, you will learn how to use SQL Mathematical Functions to manipulate tables in a database. By the end of this 2-hour-long project, you will be able to use different Mathematical Functions to retrieve the desired result from a database. In this project, you will learn how to use SQL Mathematical Functions like CEIL(), FLOOR(), RANDOM(), SETSEED(), ROUND(), TRUNC(), SQRT(), CBRT(), and POWER() to manipulate data in...

18. Mathematics for Computer Games Development using Unity

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4.5
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A Beginner's Guide to Essential Mathematics, Data Structures and Algorithms used in Game Programming applied in Unity...

19. Data Science: Complete Data Science & Machine Learning

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4.6
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Learn and master the Data Science, Python for Machine Learning, Math for Machine Learning, Statistics for Data Science...

20. College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, & Trigonometry Explained

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Master College Level Algebra with our Step by Step Video Tutorials. Over 4500 Practice Questions! Ace your Algebra Exam!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for mathematical sciences professors

The most affordable schools for mathematical sciences professors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for mathematical sciences professors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for mathematical sciences professors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

8. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for mathematical sciences professors

The hardest universities for mathematical sciences professors to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for mathematical sciences professors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for mathematical sciences professors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for mathematical sciences professors

The easiest schools for mathematical sciences professors to get into are Felician University, barry university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a mathematical sciences professor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for mathematical sciences professors.

1. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

5. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

6. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

7. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

8. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

9. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

10. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

Average mathematical sciences professor salary by education level

According to our data, mathematical sciences professors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $112,681 annually. Mathematical sciences professors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $85,731.
Mathematical sciences professor education levelMathematical sciences professor salary
Master's Degree$85,731
Doctorate Degree$112,681

Mathematical sciences professor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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