### SUMMARY

 A degree in Actuarial Science is a valuable choice and typically a required first step for students intending to pursue a career as an actuary, a chief financial officer, or a business insurance underwriter. In fact, actuarial science is a ​unique major ranking as the 167th most popular degree. Last academic year, there were 1,633 actuarial science graduates. In-state tuition for actuarial science at private institutions is, on average, 3.7 times more spendy than their public equivalents.

 With just 109 institutions having programs for actuarial science there might be limited options as to the institutions you can choose from. If you are looking to immerse yourself with other actuarial science undergraduates, look at schools in Illinois which have more students admitted to actuarial science than any other state. More generally, the best region to get a degree in actuarial science is in the Great Lakes region with [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign), [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus), and [University of Wisconsin-Madison](/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick of the top conference to study actuarial science is the Big Ten Conference with [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign), [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/colleges/university-of-nebraska-lincoln), and [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus) representing the conference. Based on our list on the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our selection for the best university for actuarial science is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania).

 The objectively best school is not necessarily the 'best' school for every student. There can be a bunch more factors to weigh when choosing institution. Things such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food would definitely affect your thoughts of where to go to university. Here at authority.org, we have examined the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are intrigued by which actuarial science university boasts the best college campus, the winner is [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university). If you are very interested in which college boasts the finest campus, we have a whole list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more to compare all U.S. majors in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our well researched list for the universities with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand from that list, our pick of the university with the best student life for actuarial science is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). Curious why? Continue scrolling to learn more about our top recommendations. Many of our picks just might shock you.

 If expense is a major influence in your decisions, you might be cautious about [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania)&nbspis our most expensive university for actuarial science, at least for out of state enrollment. That being said, we have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that could put the cost at [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you might want to know that actuarial science is the 169th most expensive major in the nation, with an average expense of $32,500. On a broader scale, the most expensive state for actuarial science on our list is Massachusetts with expenses at the main school, Bentley University, of $50,060. Even more broadly, the most expensive region for actuarial science is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [University of Connecticut](/colleges/university-of-connecticut) with a cost of $36,466, and [Bentley University](/colleges/bentley-university) with a cost of $50,060.

 Our cheapest region for actuarial science is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790. On the bright side, the most affordable college for actuarial science is [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college). Our full list of the most affordable schools can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $10,800 for a degree in actuarial science. The price increases dramatically to an average of $26,400 for the out-of-state public-school undergraduate. On that note, our pick for the school with the best value for actuarial science: [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). Here you can find our comprehensive list for the schools we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. That being said, this section is based on being an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when it comes to in-state tuition, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for actuarial science students can cover a wide range, but two years after graduation students will often make around $68,000. There can be much variation in salary; top earners can enjoy pay up to $129,600. Even right out of school, the lowest earning jobs within the actuarial science space earn $35,000, which is an alright wage. The top earning graduates from actuarial science studied at [Bentley University](/colleges/bentley-university)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The prevailing diversity of actuarial science is pretty high, ranking in the 75th percentile of majors nationally. The university with the highest composite diversity for actuarial science is [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list of the colleges which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of the Actuarial Science major only stands in the 84th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is even lower in the 69th percentile. White students compose the largest share, 50%, of students studying actuarial science. Additionally, 58% of undergrads pursuing an actuarial science degree are men.

 The median rating for actuarial science professors is 3.5 stars, which is 12% below the average for every major; this is a subpar ranking. If you are curious about the most popular actuarial science instructor nationally, consider looking up Constance Cutchins from [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida). This may come as a shock, but the highest ranked instructors for actuarial science according to students are found at [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida). As we incorporate data other than basic rankings we find that the college with the best professors for actuarial science is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). You can find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the top instructors nationwide.

 Finally, the most difficult school to get into for actuarial science is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we do have an extensive page of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). With that said, we hope you believe that looking at college through a lens mainly built on superlatives could cause problems. We at Authority hope you read our more focused pages on individual universities and read a couple of Authority's helpful background pages on important things to look out for as your college search develops.



 ### POPULARITY

 Actuarial science is the 167th most popular degree in America, with 1,633 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #168 [Community Organization and Advocacy](/rankings/best-colleges-for-community-organization-and-advocacy).

 The degree is offered at a total of 109 colleges across the nation, and is the 151st most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 5% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that in the neighborhood of three in every seven colleges offering actuarial science are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The great lakes produces the most actuarial science graduates, largely led by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Illinois ranks highest, with particular help from [DePaul University](/colleges/depaul-university) and [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more actuarial science graduates than [University of California-Los Angeles](/colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles), which graduated 103 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study actuarial science). More students studied actuarial science as a percentage of total students at [Drake University](/colleges/drake-university) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Actuarial science is the 169th most expensive degree in the nation, with a median cost of $32,471 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #170, [Environmental Biology](rankings/best-colleges-for-environmental-biology), with a median cost of $32,465).

 New England has the most expensive schools with excellent actuarial science programs predominantly led by [University of Connecticut](/colleges/university-of-connecticut) with an annual cost of $36,466. The most expensive state for actuarial science is Massachusetts led by [Bentley University](/colleges/bentley-university).

 Public schools with good programs typically charge 72.69% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 33.08% less than the median private school. So, if you're trying to find a state school, make sure you qualify for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most pricey option in the top 25 is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania), which is the 110th most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo). It costs just $5,790 per year, and it is ranked 26th for its actuarial science program. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable school, [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college)  could be for you, ranked #13 with an in-state cost of just $6,930. Another more affordable choice would be #12, [Florida State University](/colleges/florida-state-university) in Leon County, FL with a cost of $4,022 for in-state students and $16,540 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Paying for college is an important investment for most students. It is critical to make sure you are equipped to make back that investment. We aim for the following income and career info to support you in deciding your major at college.

 The average Actuarial Science graduate generates a starting income of $72,256 per annum, making them the 10th highest earning graduates. After a bit more time in their professional lives, they can make as high as $129,576 down to $35,028, but average near $68,046. Just so you know, that's 76% greater than the American average.

 The most popular job placement for an Actuarial Science graduate is Engineer, which typically make near $59,000; next are Software Engineer and Analyst, which usually make close to $65,000 and $54,000 respectively.

 The best paid region for Actuarial Science graduates is The Southwest. The most well paid state for Actuarial Science graduates is WI. The highest grossing conference for Actuarial Science graduates is Northeast 10 Conference.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Actuarial Science: Median Professor Rating: 3.5 / 5, which is below average.

 Professors continually play a critical role in shaping your college experience, regardless of your primary focus. A thought-provoking professor might provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem fun. Contrarily, a bad professor can bring a lot of stress or even worse... fail you!

 Professors of Actuarial Science, disappointingly, only have a median student rating of 3.5 out of 5, which puts these professors in the lower 5% in America grounded in overall professor quality. For context a 3.5 rating is 12.5% below the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Actuarial Science barely edged-out those from ["Physiology"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-physiology), whereas ["Physical Sciences"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-physical-sciences)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Actuarial Science.

 Now for some statistics about Actuarial Science professors. Colleges located in remote towns tend to have the best Actuarial Science professors. The Sun Belt Conference has the highest rated Actuarial Science professors. The Great Lakes region has the highest rated Actuarial Science professors. Public institutions tend to have higher rated Actuarial Science professors than private schools. Finally, Georgia has the highest rated Actuarial Science professors in the United States.

 Constance Cutchins, professor at [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida)&nbspin Orlando, FL is the most popular Actuarial Science professor in the United States. Tom Fiorillo, instructor at [Saint Johns University](/colleges/saint-johns-university)&nbspin Collegeville, MN is the highest rated Actuarial Science professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which universities have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College is an immensely influential period in one's life; it's a chance for individual progress and evolution. Scholars continue to discover what they are capable of and forge the rudimentary skills to be a successful member of society. But growth is not confined to a classroom - the campus dialogue, the funny story received from an old instructor, the exposure to a different position. As such, a diverse student experience greatly enhances what one gains from the time spent at school.

 Actuarial Science is a more ethnically diverse major than average\*. 50% of the United States' Actuarial Science majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(31%), asian students (12%), and latino students (5%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania)&nbspin Philadelphia, PA.

 Secondly, Actuarial Science slightly skews male, with a tad south of 3/7 of majors identifying as men. [Aurora University](/colleges/aurora-university) in Aurora, IL has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another important type of diversity is financial diversity. Actuarial Science ranks in the top 16% of subjects for income diversity. 28% of its students come from households that take home more than $110,000 per year, 17% are from families that take home between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 24% grew up in homes with a sub $30,000 income. [Aurora University](/colleges/aurora-university) is the most fiscally diverse institution in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall TX is the most diverse state for Actuarial Science. The Southwest is the most diverse region, and the Ivy League is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 12%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 5%
* White: 50%
* Other: 31%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 58%
* Female: 42%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 24%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 17%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 28%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 70%
* Out of State: 24%
* International: 6%


University of Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Florida State University

New York University

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University of Georgia

University of California-Santa Barbara

Texas Christian University

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Michigan State University

University of Central Florida

Purdue University-Main Campus

Brigham Young University

DePauw University

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Delaware

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Drake University

University of Iowa

University of Connecticut

DePaul University

Bentley University

University of St Thomas

Search for the best Actuarial Science colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Actuarial Science Salary

There are about 3,973 students enrolled in Actuarial Science in the USA.

SALARY