Actuarial Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Application of mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in insurance, finance, and other industries.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$120K
salary
ROI Payback
3 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
1.8%
rate
Actuarial Science Overview
Application of mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in insurance, finance, and other industries.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
72%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
8%
Lifetime Premium
$1050K
Female Graduates
40%
Actuarial Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,000
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,000
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$1,032,000
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,050,000) minus net degree cost ($18,000)
Actuarial Science Salary Progression
Common Actuarial Science Careers
Actuary
Risk Analyst
Insurance Underwriter
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Actuarial Science
#1
University of Wisconsin
#2
University of Illinois
#3
Penn State
#4
Purdue
#5
University of Connecticut
Related Majors
Actuarial Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Actuarial Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for actuarial science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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