Post job

Professor of mathematics and computer science education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a professor of mathematics and computer science. Professors of mathematics and computer science usually study mathematics, physics, or mathematics and computer science. 53% of professors of mathematics and computer science hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 64 real professor of mathematics and computer science resumes to see exactly what professor of mathematics and computer science education sections show.

The most common colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science are the Mercy College and the Mercy College.

There are also many online professor of mathematics and computer science courses to help get the education required to be a professor of mathematics and computer science.

What education do you need to become a professor of mathematics and computer science?

What degree do you need to be a professor of mathematics and computer science?

The most common degree for professors of mathematics and computer science is bachelor's degree, with 53% of professors of mathematics and computer science earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 25% and master's degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 53%
  • Master's, 25%
  • Doctorate, 12%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a professor of mathematics and computer science?

You should major in mathematics to become a professor of mathematics and computer science. 29% of professors of mathematics and computer science major in mathematics. Other common majors for a professor of mathematics and computer science include physics and mathematics and computer science.

Most common colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science

Professors of mathematics and computer science often get their degrees at Mercy College, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, and Knox College. Here are the most common colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science in the US based on their resumes.
Professor of mathematics and computer science common collegePercentages
Mercy College9.09%
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler9.09%
Knox College4.55%
Brown University4.55%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology4.55%

Best majors for professors of mathematics and computer science

Best colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science

The best colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A professor of mathematics and computer science with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for professors of mathematics and computer science. 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 professors of mathematics and computer science.

1. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

7. University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,167

Enrollment

30,279

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

20 best online courses for professors of mathematics and computer science

Advertising disclosure

1. Mathematics for Computer Science

coursera

“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...

2. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming

coursera

This specialisation covers topics ranging from basic computing principles to the mathematical foundations required for computer science. You will learn fundamental concepts of how computers work, which can be applied to any software or computer system. You will also gain the practical skillset needed to write interactive, graphical programs at an introductory level. The numerical mathematics component will provide you with numerical and computational tools that are essential for the problem...

3. Introduction to Computer Science

udemy
4.2
(295)

Computer Science made fun and easy...

4. Computer Science 101 - Computers & Programming for Beginners

udemy
4.4
(1,518)

Understand the basic concepts behind Computers, Computer Science, Programming and Programming Languages...

5. Introduction to Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science

coursera

Discrete Mathematics is the language of Computer Science. One needs to be fluent in it to work in many fields including data science, machine learning, and software engineering (it is not a coincidence that math puzzles are often used for interviews). We introduce you to this language through a fun try-this-before-we-explain-everything approach: first you solve many interactive puzzles that are carefully designed specifically for this online specialization, and then we explain how to solve the...

6. Foundations of Computer Science

coursera

Welcome to Introduction to Programming: Visual Basic. In the course sequence you will learn to write programs that utilize both procedural and object oriented techniques to solve business problems. In the first course in the sequence we will provide you with a solid foundation in the computer science topics that are important to understand when programming Visual Basic. In courses two through four, we will role up our sleeves and start coding in Visual Basic. In these courses you need to have...

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

udemy
4.6
(130,823)

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

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

udemy
4.5
(348)

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

9. Principles of Computing (Part 2)

coursera

This two-part course introduces the basic mathematical and programming principles that underlie much of Computer Science. Understanding these principles is crucial to the process of creating efficient and well-structured solutions for computational problems. To get hands-on experience working with these concepts, we will use the Python programming language. The main focus of the class will be weekly mini-projects that build upon the mathematical and programming principles that are taught in the...

10. Accelerated Computer Science Fundamentals

coursera

Topics covered by this Specialization include basic object-oriented programming, the analysis of asymptotic algorithmic run times, and the implementation of basic data structures including arrays, hash tables, linked lists, trees, heaps and graphs, as well as algorithms for traversals, rebalancing and shortest paths.\n\nThis Specialization sequence is designed to help prospective applicants to the flexible and affordable Online Master of Computer Science (MCS) and MCS in Data Science prepare...

11. CS101 Bootcamp: Introduction to Computer Science & Software

udemy
4.2
(1,036)

A Computer Science & software programming / coding bootcamp for absolute beginners. No coding background necessary...

12. Computer Science 101: Master the Theory Behind Programming

udemy
4.6
(5,377)

Computer Science 101: Learn Computer Science to become a better Programmer and Software Engineer...

13. Computers, Waves, Simulations: A Practical Introduction to Numerical Methods using Python

coursera

Interested in learning how to solve partial differential equations with numerical methods and how to turn them into python codes? This course provides you with a basic introduction how to apply methods like the finite-difference method, the pseudospectral method, the linear and spectral element method to the 1D (or 2D) scalar wave equation. The mathematical derivation of the computational algorithm is accompanied by python codes embedded in Jupyter notebooks. In a unique setup you can see how...

14. Mathematics for Computer Games Development using Unity

udemy
4.5
(1,590)

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

15. Statistics & Mathematics for Data Science & Data Analytics

udemy
4.6
(1,486)

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

16. Discrete Mathematics

udemy
4.6
(2,937)

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

17. Computer Architecture & Organization Part 1: Cache Memory

udemy
4.7
(525)

Master Computer Architecture and Organization as it forms the core of computer science...

18. Computer Architecture and Computer Organization Masterclass

udemy
4.3
(1,176)

Full Program: Computer Organization, Computer Architecture, Instruction Set, CPU, Memory Hierarchy (FREE Lecture Notes)...

19. The Foundations of Computer Design

udemy
4.2
(340)

Learn how basic computers are designed - a fundamental topic in computer science...

20. Statistics for Data Science and Business Analysis

udemy
4.5
(39,897)

Statistics you need in the office: Descriptive & Inferential statistics, Hypothesis testing, Regression analysis...

Top 10 most affordable universities for professors of mathematics and computer science

The most affordable schools for professors of mathematics and computer science are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for professors of mathematics and computer science 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 professors of mathematics and computer science.

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. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for professors of mathematics and computer science

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

Some great schools for professors of mathematics and computer science 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 professors of mathematics and computer science 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions rate

18%

SAT average

1,502

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for professors of mathematics and computer science

The easiest schools for professors of mathematics and computer science to get into are University of Houston - Downtown, the university of texas at el paso, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a professor of mathematics and computer science 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 professors of mathematics and computer science.

1. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

2. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

6. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

7. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

8. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

9. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average professor of mathematics and computer science salary by education level

According to our data, professors of mathematics and computer science with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $86,114 annually. Professors of mathematics and computer science with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $64,160.
Professor of mathematics and computer science education levelProfessor of mathematics and computer science salary
Master's Degree$64,160
Doctorate Degree$86,114

Professor of mathematics and computer science education FAQs

Search for professor of mathematics and computer science jobs

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.

Browse education, training, and library jobs