Best Mathematics Programs in the West (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Mathematics Programs in the United States
This page ranks 66 Mathematics programs in the West by the median earnings of Mathematics graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads the list with median earnings of $100,127 for its Mathematics graduates after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $100,127 to $25,194, with a median of $65,458. For 12 of the 66 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 51 of the 66 programs, or 77%, alongside 15 private nonprofit programs. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $3,967.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $100,127 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks 1st on this list with median earnings of $100,127 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 39%. | |||||
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $99,269 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of California-Los Angeles left with a median of $14,000 in federal loans, and the school's Mathematics completers report median earnings of $99,269 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $90,635 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder posts an average net price of $25,346 and median earnings of $90,635 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, ranking 3rd on this page. | |||||
| 4 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $88,080 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Los Angeles, Occidental College ranks 4th on this list and reports median earnings of $88,080 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $85,391 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 66th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $85,391 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $83,187 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| With an admission rate of 31%, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks 6th on this list and its Mathematics graduates report median earnings of $83,187 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $82,191 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
| University of Oregon reports median earnings of $82,191 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $22,182. | |||||
| 8 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $80,654 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| Ranking 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of California-Berkeley reports median earnings of $80,654 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Seattle University · Seattle, WA | $80,592 | $34,662 | $22,896 | 76.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Seattle University left with a median of $19,883 in federal loans, while the school's Mathematics completers report median earnings of $80,592 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $80,055 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton ranks 10th on this list, reports an average net price of $6,555, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $80,055 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $79,015 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| University of California-San Diego admits 27% of applicants and its Mathematics graduates report median earnings of $79,015 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $79,013 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion reports median earnings of $79,013 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,967. | |||||
| 13 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $78,568 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
| University of Portland reports $78,568 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $28,210. | |||||
| 14 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $78,056 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
| Pacific Lutheran University admits 78% of applicants and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $78,056 four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $77,891 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at California State University-Chico left with a median of $16,552 in federal loans, and the school ranks 91st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $77,472 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $77,472 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA | $75,462 | $38,394 | $23,643 | 72.3% |
| An average net price of $23,643 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $75,462 for Mathematics graduates of University of Puget Sound four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | Whitworth University · Spokane, WA | $73,097 | $26,534 | $16,788 | 89.8% |
| Whitworth University ranks 18th on this list, with median earnings of $73,097 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 25 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 19 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $72,979 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus admits 95% of applicants and reports a school-wide median federal debt of $18,450 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 20 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $72,640 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| Median earnings of $72,640 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing are reported by University of California-Davis, which carries an average net price of $14,741. | |||||
| 21 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $72,318 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
| Oregon State University ranks 126th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $72,318 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $71,323 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University shows an average net price of $9,341 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $71,323 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $71,059 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
| University of Utah reports a school-wide median federal debt of $19,000 across all of its borrowers who completed, and its Mathematics graduates earn a median of $71,059 four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $70,999 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
| With an admission rate of 96%, University of Nevada-Las Vegas posts median earnings of $70,999 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $70,681 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
| University of Nevada-Reno reports $70,681 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,927. | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $70,677 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| With an average net price of $3,967, California State University-Los Angeles ranks 26th on this list and posts a 91% admission rate. | |||||
| 27 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $70,628 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
| California State University-Channel Islands admits 95% of applicants and its Mathematics graduates earned a median of $70,628 four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs, CO | $69,992 | $15,788 | $12,065 | 97.4% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Colorado Colorado Springs left with a median of $20,000 in federal loans, and the school ranks 394th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 29 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $69,377 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, University of Southern California reports $69,377 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $68,900 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills ranks 46th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $8,615. | |||||
| 31 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $68,280 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
| With 73 graduates in the earnings cohort, Portland State University reports median earnings of $68,280 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $66,381 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| University of Arizona admits 86% of applicants, and its Mathematics graduates earned a median of $66,381 four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $65,731 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Montana State University left with a median of $22,500 in federal loans, while the school's Mathematics graduates earned a median of $65,731 four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $65,184 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
| California State University-Stanislaus ranks 83rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $6,067. | |||||
| 35 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $65,179 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver posts a 99% admission rate, and its Mathematics graduates earned a median of $65,179 four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $64,913 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| With an average net price of $12,885, Sonoma State University reports $64,913 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $64,470 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
| California State University-Bakersfield reports $64,470 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $5,652. | |||||
| 38 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $63,596 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| With a 76% admission rate, University of California-Riverside ranks 31st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 39 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $63,077 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $13,872 in federal loans at California State University-Northridge, which ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 40 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $63,059 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona posts median earnings of $63,059 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 92 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 41 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $62,943 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
| An average net price of $9,970 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a 97% admission rate at California State University-Monterey Bay. | |||||
| 42 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | $62,085 | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
| Ranking 42nd on this list, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus reports median earnings of $62,085 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $61,754 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach carries a 46% admission rate and ranks 5th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 44 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $59,723 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Spokane, Gonzaga University shows median federal debt of $24,454 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 45 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $59,214 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz reports $59,214 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $17,890. | |||||
| 46 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $59,162 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| With a 94% admission rate, California State University-Sacramento ranks 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 47 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $57,999 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University posts median earnings of $57,999 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $9,910 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 48 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $57,603 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| Ranking 48th on this list, California State University-San Bernardino reports median earnings of $57,603 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $55,794 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
| University of Wyoming ranks 49th on this list, with median earnings of $55,794 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 50 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $55,664 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno posts an average net price of $7,000 and a school-wide median federal debt of $14,505 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 51 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $54,234 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
| Western Washington University admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $54,234 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $54,149 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
| Northern Arizona University sits at 127th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside median earnings of $54,149 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $52,107 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Provo, Brigham Young University reports median earnings of $52,107 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $51,939 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
| University of Northern Colorado shows an average net price of $17,760 and a school-wide median federal debt of $20,470 for its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 55 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $48,582 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
| Boise State University ranks 55th on this list, with an admission rate of 87% and median earnings of $48,582 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | Linfield University · Mcminnville, OR | $42,682 | $26,536 | $20,059 | 85.2% |
| Linfield University reports median earnings of $42,682 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $26,536. | |||||
| 57 | Willamette University · Salem, OR | $42,682 | $25,121 | $16,182 | 77.1% |
| Willamette University admits 77% of applicants and sits at 1311th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 58 | Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR | $39,369 | $35,273 | $23,318 | 89.6% |
| Pacific University posts an average net price of $35,273, with median earnings of $39,369 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Western Colorado University · Gunnison, CO | $38,871 | $16,425 | $11,490 | 99.7% |
| Western Colorado University admits 100% of applicants and reports median earnings of $38,871 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 60 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $38,681 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins ranks 60th on this list, with an average net price of $21,279 and median earnings of $38,681 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $35,701 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
| The University of Montana ranks 61st on this list, with median earnings of $35,701 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 62 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $35,060 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
| Chapman University, a private nonprofit university in Orange, posts an average net price of $46,555 and an admission rate of 65%. | |||||
| 63 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $31,133 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa reports $31,133 in median earnings for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing and ranks 258th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 64 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $28,236 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| An average net price of $28,287 for families earning under $30,000 accompanies an admission rate of 83% at University of Redlands. | |||||
| 65 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $26,739 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
| University of Idaho ranks 456th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mathematics graduates earned a median of $26,739 four years after completing. | |||||
| 66 | Lewis & Clark College · Portland, OR | $25,194 | $36,013 | $15,962 | 78.5% |
| Lewis & Clark College reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Mathematics graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 20 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Mathematics graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 12 of the 66 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between University of Washington-Seattle Campus and University of California-Los Angeles is $858, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $74,933.
Job market context in the West
Graduates of Mathematics programs in the West enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Data Scientists. The median annual wage across those occupations is $100,618, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $78,429. State projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 11.0% higher, with 22,220 projected openings a year, or about 488 openings a year for every hundred graduates, meaning more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of Mathematics graduates four years after completing; the market figures describe the broader occupations, and the two are not the same measure.
Related rankings
- Best Mathematics Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in the West
- Best Mathematics Programs in the Midwest
- Best Mathematics Programs in the Northeast
- Mathematics Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
- Mathematics Colleges in the West