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# Best Applied Mathematics Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Top Applied Mathematics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs/)

This page ranks the 18 Applied Mathematics programs in the West by the median earnings of Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) leads the list at $118,414, with a cohort of 254 graduates.

[University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) follows at $109,360, and [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) rounds out the top three at $103,887. Across the list, median earnings range from $118,414 down to $44,933, with a median of $76,622.

For 4 of the 18 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 15 of the 18 programs, or 83%, alongside 3 private nonprofits. University of California-Merced posts the lowest average net price on the page at $11,983.

Western Washington University admits 93% of applicants, while Stanford University admits 4%. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

18 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $118,414 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) reports [median earnings of $118,414](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, with 254 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $109,360 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | An [average net price of $16,109](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/cost/) and median earnings of $109,360 four years after completing accompany [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/)'s 2nd position on this list. |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $103,887 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | Admitting 9% of applicants, [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) posts [median earnings of $103,887](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $101,094 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) carries [median federal debt of $12,251](/school/university-of-southern-california/cost/) among Applied Mathematics completers who borrowed and median earnings of $101,094 four years after completing. |
| 5 | Colorado School of Mines · Golden, CO | $98,190 | $28,690 | $16,849 | 60.7% |
|  | [Colorado School of Mines](/school/colorado-school-of-mines/majors/) ranks 5th on this list, with an [admission rate of 61%](/school/colorado-school-of-mines/admissions/) and median earnings of $98,190 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $97,071 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% |
|  | [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) holds the lowest admission rate on the page at 4% and reports [median earnings of $97,071](/school/stanford-university/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $85,233 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) [ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $85,233 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $82,156 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | Median earnings of $82,156 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing and an [average net price of $11,983](/school/university-of-california-merced/cost/) are reported by [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/). |
| 9 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $77,908 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
|  | University of Portland carries median federal debt of $20,810 among Applied Mathematics completers who borrowed and reports median earnings of $77,908 four years after completing. |
| 10 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $75,336 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) ranks 10th on this list and shows [median federal debt of $20,500](/school/boise-state-university/cost/) across all of the school's borrowers who completed, alongside median earnings of $75,336 four years after completing. |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $71,317 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | Admitting 90% of applicants, [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) reports [median earnings of $71,317](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $70,085 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
|  | [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $70,085](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing and carries median federal debt of $16,139 among Applied Mathematics completers who borrowed. |
| 13 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $69,606 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $69,606](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, with 42 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $68,778 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and reports an [average net price of $6,384](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 15 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $68,359 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/western-washington-university/admissions/) and shows an average net price of $12,915 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 16 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $65,508 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) [ranks 18th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-davis/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $65,508 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $61,516 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 78%](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/admissions/), [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) reports median earnings of $61,516 for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $44,933 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
|  | [University of Idaho](/school/university-of-idaho/majors/) reports [median earnings of $44,933](/school/university-of-idaho/outcomes/) for its Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,831. |

\* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Applied Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the West appear. For four of the 18 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from $118,414 to $44,933 and the median of $76,622 cover the 18 schools with a published figure. University of California-Berkeley leads University of California-Santa Barbara by $9,054, and the spread from top to bottom is $73,481.

## Related rankings

-   [Top Applied Mathematics Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Applied Mathematics Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Applied Mathematics Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Applied Mathematics Programs in the South](/rankings/best-applied-mathematics-programs-in-the-south/)
-   Mathematics Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Mathematics Colleges in the West