Getting a Degree in Statistics
The official page of Wright State University says the field of statistics, "...is distinct from mathematics as a field of study, yet is founded upon the theory of probability—the mathematics of chance."When seeking a degree in statistics, you may find this subject is covered "both as a science unto itself and as a service science, with powerful applications in such disciplines as biology, medicine, sociology, chemistry, agriculture, education, engineering, economics, psychology, and quality control."
Graduates with statistics degrees are prepared to work for "corporations and government agencies for which statisticians design experiments, conduct surveys, and analyze data."
Statistics is a discipline about collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data. Statistics is commonly taught in university mathematics departments, and some overlap with majors such as economics, sociology, accounting, and finance.
Related Majors
Scholarships for Statistics Majors
The Ellis R. Ott Scholarship For Applied Statistics and Quality Management
This scholarship is for a student planning to enroll or who is already enrolled in a master’s degree or higher-level US or Canadian program that has a concentration in applied statistics and quality management.Scholarship awards are based on demonstrated ability, academic achievement, career objectives, faculty recommendations, student involvement in campus activities, and industrial exposure, including part-time work and internships. There will be one award for those pursuing a master’s degree, and two for those who are pursuing doctorate degrees. The award is $7,500.
For more Statistics scholarships, please go here. For more scholarships for veterans and military, please go here.
Filters
Degree Level
Search and select multiple degree level.
Search and select multiple degree level.
Degree Program or Area of Study
Search and select multiple area of focus.
Search and select multiple area of focus.
Where do you plan to study?
Type of School
Years Offered
Campus Setting
Size of School
Gender-Specific
Religious Affiliation
Religious Affiliation
Ethnic Affiliation
Financial SupportAcademic SupportPrograms
Those who want to become statisticians need at least a bachelor’s degree in statistics. You can also go on to get your master’s degree or Ph.D. in statistics. Many people with a statistics degree get jobs for the government or other businesses.
A bachelor’s degree in statistics would take you around four years, and you may take classes such as applied statistics, probability and statistics, experiments and sampling, applied regression analysis, discrete data analysis, and linear algebra.
For in-person programs, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University all have highly rated programs. For online programs, Chadron State College, American Public University, and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell all have highly rated programs.
RELATED: Getting Your Master’s Degree in Statistics
Students in a master’s program would conduct research and gain first-hand experience through internships. Some of the classes you might take would be qualitative data analysis, statistical consulting, mathematical probability, or regression analysis.
For in-person programs, Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Washington University in St. Louis all have highly rated programs. For online programs, Texas A&M University-College Station, Oklahoma State University, and Colorado State University all have highly rated programs.
Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics
When you go for your bachelor’s degree in statistics, you most likely would study probability, introductory statistical methods, and the ideas of likelihood and regression modeling. You would learn about the methods involved in statistics to collect, organize, interpret, and analyze numerical information for various settings and industries.A bachelor’s degree in statistics would take you around four years, and you may take classes such as applied statistics, probability and statistics, experiments and sampling, applied regression analysis, discrete data analysis, and linear algebra.
For in-person programs, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University all have highly rated programs. For online programs, Chadron State College, American Public University, and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell all have highly rated programs.
Jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics
- Financial Analysts, who work in banks, with pension funds, insurance companies, and other businesses, and provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions, have an average salary of $61,971.
- Operations Research Analysts, who are high-level problem-solvers who use advanced techniques such as optimization, data mining, statistical analysis, and mathematical modeling to develop solutions that help businesses and organizations operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, have an average salary of $69,816, according to Glassdoor.
- Economists, who are experts who study the relationship between a society’s resources and its production or output, have an average salary of $97,811, according to Glassdoor.
Master’s Degree in Statistics
Getting your master’s degree in statistics will allow you to define your career in statistics. It would take about 1-3 years, depending on many different factors. You would also focus on a specialization such as biostatistics, survey statistics, and statistical genetics. Students typically need a bachelor’s degree in statistics or mathematics or a similar degree.RELATED: Getting Your Master’s Degree in Statistics
Students in a master’s program would conduct research and gain first-hand experience through internships. Some of the classes you might take would be qualitative data analysis, statistical consulting, mathematical probability, or regression analysis.
For in-person programs, Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Washington University in St. Louis all have highly rated programs. For online programs, Texas A&M University-College Station, Oklahoma State University, and Colorado State University all have highly rated programs.
Jobs with a Master’s Degree in Statistics
- Statisticians, who practice the science of using data to make decisions and decide what data they need, how to collect it, and analyze and interrupt it, have an average salary of $76,884.
- Mathematicians, who are similar to statisticians, generally need a master’s degree and can research and study different mathematical principles and theories, have an average salary of $51,385, according to Glassdoor.
- Actuaries, where having a master’s degree would be very beneficial, use statistics to help them determine the financial costs of various risks, and have an average salary of $97,776, according to Glassdoor.