The 5 Best Online Bachelor in Mathematics Degree Programs

Bachelor in Mathematics degree graduates help fulfill the world's increasing demand for diverse quantitative skills. Math provides a rich source of methods to analyze and solve an array of the world's problems.

Complex engineering, technological, and business problems often require a high level of mathematical treatment. Professionals also increasingly use mathematics in various and sophisticated ways in the humanities and the social sciences.

Bachelor in Math degree graduates use their vital skills in a wide spectrum of industries. Math majors use mathematics and its applications to build and improve vital work in fields such as business, sciences, manufacturing, finance, engineering, and communications.

The world has a need for mathematics majors in areas such as research, statistics, actuarial sciences, teaching, high-tech, quantitative finance, computer science, cryptography, operations research analysis, mathematical modeling, and more.

Some math majors go on to graduate school in mathematics, statistics, or in a related field such as operations research, economics, physics, engineering, bioinformatics, biostatistics, mathematical biology, computer science, etc.

See also: What can I do with a Mathematics degree?

Online math degree students gain an understanding of the foundations and the frontiers of mathematics. Bachelor in Mathematics degree programs typically provide a broad overview of mathematical concepts, applications, and theories.

Mathematics majors have the opportunity to enhance their skills in areas such as analyzing data, logical reasoning, formulating and solving problems, and abstract thinking. Math students also learn how to create, evaluate, and interpret mathematical models, as well as provide solid arguments based on mathematical reasoning and data analysis.

Online Bachelor in Mathematics degree program ranking guidelines:

We selected the degree programs based on the quality of the program, types of courses provided, and faculty strength, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.

RANKING METHODOLOGY

Methodology for College Rankings

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The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.

To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet — TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):

1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]

• Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
• Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
• Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
• Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
• Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
• Considers range of electives within that discipline
• Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline

2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]

• Considers education background of the faculty
• Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
• Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
• Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
• Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources

3. Reputation [weight = 20%]

• Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • “Freshness” of academic knowledge
  • Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
  • Suitability of graduates for the workplace

4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]

• Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
• Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants

5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]

• Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
• Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business

6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]

• Considers the following of the online classes:
  • Types of online technology used to deliver content
  • Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
  • Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
  • Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
• Considers the following of instructors:
  • Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
  • Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
  • Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
  • Ratio to number of students in a class
• Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.

To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:

• Accreditation
• Public or private status
• Acceptance rate
• Retention rate
• Graduation rate
• ACT/SAT requirements
• Cost in-state / out of state
• Undergrad, grad, or both offered
• Region
• State
• City

Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!

If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.

Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “ Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “ Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!

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The Best Online Bachelor in Mathematics Degree Programs

1University of Illinois Springfield

(Springfield, IL)

The University of Illinois Springfield, a public, liberal arts university, offers dozens of programs leading to undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degrees. A member of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois Springfield enrolls about 5,700 students.

The university designed the online Bachelor in Mathematical Sciences degree for students who completed about 60 credit hours before admission. The math degree program prepares graduates for careers in teaching, research, and management, as well as for advanced study in mathematics.

The University of Illinois Springfield's Mathematical Sciences degree program features courses in statistics, abstract algebra, and geometry.

The university's online courses follow the same semester schedule as its on-campus courses.

Online students can complete coursework any time of day, but must meet specific deadlines for homework and tests. Students can complete the fully online math degree program in about two years.

The University of Illinois Springfield's 60-credit, Online Bachelor in Mathematical Sciences degree program includes the following courses:

• Linear Algebra
• Mathematical Statistics
• Advanced Calculus
• Operations Research Methods

Students also must select a two-course concentration area: algebra and geometry; or statistical methods and mathematical statistics II.

University of Illinois Springfield is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

2Indiana University East

(Richmond, IN)

Indiana University East, a public university established in 1971, enrolls about 4,570 students. A member of the Indiana University system, Indiana University East offers an array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as online certificate and degree completion programs.

Designed for students who have completed their general education courses, Indiana University East's online Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree program prepares graduates for careers in teaching, finance, economics and actuarial science, or advanced studies in mathematics.

The online math degree program features courses in calculus, algebra, and mathematical modeling. Students can choose an area of specialization such as pure mathematics or financial mathematics.

Online students receive the same degree as their on-campus counterparts. Students can complete the fully online program in two years or less.

The Bachelor in Mathematics online degree program consists of 45 credit hours in mathematics such as:

• Calculus
• Real Analysis
• Bridge to Abstract Math
• Modern Algebra
• Differential Equations
• Finite Mathematics
• Financial Decision Making

Students also must complete a senior seminar.

Indiana University East holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

3Mercy College, School of Liberal Arts

(Dobbs Ferry, NY)

Mercy College, a non-sectarian, private, nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1950, offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools. Mercy College enrolls more than 8,000 students.

With an emphasis in applied math and computer language, Mercy College's Bachelor of Science in Mathematics online degree prepares graduates for careers in industry, business, government, and teaching, or for graduate studies.

Offered through the School of Liberal Arts, the program teaches students to apply quantification as a problem-solving strategy, to write a step-by-step deductive proof, to analyze data and complex problems, to prepare a cohesive presentation on a specific mathematical topic, and more. The curriculum also focuses on technology integration and effective communication skills.

Students can complete the 120-credit, fully online degree program in four years.

The online Bachelor's degree in Mathematics consists of 45 credits in mathematics courses such as:

• Linear Algebra
• Number Theory
• Probability: Theory/Application
• Calculus
• Mathematical Modeling
• Statistics: Theory/Application
• Algebraic Structures

Mercy College holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

4Mayville State University

(Mayville, ND)

Mayville State University, a public institution of higher learning founded in 1889, enrolls about 1,080 students. Part of the North Dakota University System, Mayville State University offers associate's degrees in business management and early childhood associate, as well as bachelor's degrees in topics ranging from biology to sport management to special education and more.

Mayville State University's online Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree prepares graduates for careers as actuary, college administrator, tax manager, demographer, and statistician, among others.

The math degree program helps students develop the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to apply mathematics in non-teaching positions in industry and business. Students also develop an awareness of connections between mathematical concepts and real-world applications.

The fully online cohort-based program features small class sizes. Students complete the program in three years, including two summer sessions.

The 120-credit, online B.S. in Mathematics degree program includes 29 semester hours in mathematics such as:

• Modern Geometry
• History and Philosophy of Math
• Theory of Numbers
• Trigonometry
• Probability and Statistics
• Calculus
• Differential Equations

Students without a bachelor's degree must complete a minor. Options include business administration, general science, accounting, library media & information science, and computer information science.

Students without an associate's degree or bachelor's degree also must complete an I.T. certificate program.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) provides Mayville State University with accreditation.

5Ottawa University

(Ottawa, KS)

Ottawa University, a nonprofit, private, faith-based liberal arts college founded in 1865, enrolls about 7,000 students across six campuses and online. Affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, Ottawa University offers bachelor's degrees in more than 25 program areas, as well as a handful of master's degrees.

Ottawa University's Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics online degree program helps students gain mastery of algebra, calculus, geometry, computer programming, and statistics. Students also develop essential skills in logic, critical thinking, reasoning, and communication.

The mathematics degree program prepares graduates for careers in computer science, teaching, investments, business, computer programming, and more.

The online B.A. in Mathematics degree program includes the following courses:

• Linear Algebra
• Abstract Algebra
• Calculus
• Differential Equations
• Numerical Methods
• Discrete Mathematics
• Introduction to Real Analysis

Students also must complete an integrative seminar. Online students also can complete a concentration in actuarial science, as well as nearly two-dozen minor programs.

Ottawa University holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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