Statistics
What this major studies in college, how to prepare in high school where a source says so, and careers open with a bachelor’s degree. Every fact below names its source.
Last checked:
What it is
Penn State's statistics major helps prepare students interested in mathematics, computation and the quantitative side of science for careers in industry and government as statistical analysts, or for graduate training in statistics. [1]
Data should be a major component of statistics courses. [2]
Typical college courses
The American Statistical Association (ASA) curriculum guidelines for undergraduate programs in statistical science, endorsed by the ASA Board of Directors in 2014, expect statistics programs to provide background in statistical methods and theory, data management, computation, mathematical foundations and statistical practice. [2]
The requirements that all options of the statistics B.S. share include Elementary Statistics, Statistical Modeling I, Data Science Through Statistical Reasoning and Computation, Introduction to Probability Theory, and Introduction to Mathematical Statistics. [1]
The rows below show one named program as an example: the Penn State bachelor of science in statistics (courses all options share), 2026–2027 bulletin. Course descriptions are in our own words. Course names and numbers differ at every college; confirm each college’s own list.
| Course | Status | What it covers (example: Penn State bulletin) | Comes after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Statistics | Required in this example program[1] | Elementary Statistics (STAT 200) is a standard first course in statistics, covering descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, probability, and the binomial and normal distributions. [3] | It comes after placement into MATH 21 or higher. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Measures of center · Measures of spread · The normal model · Conditional probability and independence · Confidence intervals for a proportion · Significance and p-values | |||
| Statistical Modeling I | Required in this example program[1] | Statistical Modeling I (STAT 300) is designed as a bridge from introductory statistics, including AP statistics, and focuses on applied statistical modeling of real data with software, including simple and multiple linear regression. [3] | It comes after one of a list of courses that includes STAT 100, STAT 200 and STAT 250. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Scatter plots and correlation · Least-squares regression · Residuals and model fit · Inference for the slope of a regression line · Correlation and causation | |||
| Data Science Through Statistical Reasoning and Computation | Required in this example program[1] | Data Science Through Statistical Reasoning and Computation (STAT 380) uses case studies to answer data-heavy questions with computing and statistical reasoning, starting from the work of obtaining and cleaning messy real data. [3] | It comes after STAT 200 (or DS 200 or PLSC 309) and STAT 184. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Statistical questions and types of data · Least-squares regression · Sampling methods and bias · Evaluating reports based on data · Statistics project: from question to conclusion · Visualizing data | |||
| Introduction to Probability Theory | Required in this example program[1] | Introduction to Probability Theory (STAT 414, also listed as MATH 414) presents calculus-based probability, including probability spaces, discrete and continuous random variables, transformations and expectations. [3] | It comes after MATH 230, or with MATH 232, or after MATH 231 and RM 214. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Probability rules · Conditional probability and independence · Random variables and expected value · Binomial distributions · The normal model | |||
| Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | Required in this example program[1] | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (STAT 415) is a theory course on statistical inference, covering sufficiency, estimation, testing and regression. [3] | It comes after MATH 414 or STAT 414. [3] |
Get ready with these topics: Sampling distributions · The Central Limit Theorem · Confidence intervals for a mean · Significance and p-values · Errors and power | |||
Typical high school preparation
- Students who are interested in becoming mathematicians or statisticians should take as many math courses as possible in high school. [4]
This is general advice from the cited source, not a rule for every college. Confirm each college’s own list.
Related majors
Each card opens that major’s page. Compare the courses before you choose, and confirm each college’s own list.
Data Science
Data sciences is a field that develops, applies and checks methods, systems and tools for drawing useful knowledge, sound conclusions and actionable insights from large, complex and varied data. [5]
Mathematics
Penn State's bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in mathematics share a common core of mathematics courses, and both prepare students for graduate work in mathematics. [6]
Actuarial Science
An actuary is a business professional who uses mathematical skills to define, analyze and solve complex business and social problems. [7]
Where this degree can lead with a bachelor’s
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
Examples from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Other careers may need more study after the bachelor’s degree.
Statisticians and mathematicians
Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems. [4]
Some mathematician and statistician positions are available to those with a bachelor's degree. [4]
The median annual wage for statisticians was $105,650 in May 2025. [4]
Overall employment of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. [4]
Mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree in mathematics or statistics. [4]
Data scientists
Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data. [8]
The median annual wage for data scientists was $120,230 in May 2025. [8]
Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 35 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. [8]
Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field to enter the occupation. [8]
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
What can you do with a statistics degree?
Some mathematician and statistician positions are available to those with a bachelor's degree. [4]
Data scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science or a related field to enter the occupation. [8]
Data science vs statistics: what is the difference?
The American Statistical Association (ASA) curriculum guidelines for undergraduate programs in statistical science, endorsed by the ASA Board of Directors in 2014, expect statistics programs to provide background in statistical methods and theory, data management, computation, mathematical foundations and statistical practice. [2]
Data sciences is a field that develops, applies and checks methods, systems and tools for drawing useful knowledge, sound conclusions and actionable insights from large, complex and varied data. [5]
Your next step
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Sources
- The Pennsylvania State University. Statistics, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/eberly-science/statistics-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- American Statistical Association (ASA). Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs in Statistical Science. https://www.amstat.org/asa/education/Curriculum-Guidelines-for-Undergraduate-Programs-in-Statistical-Science.aspx. 2014 guidelines, endorsed by the ASA Board of Directors November 15, 2014. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Statistics (STAT) course descriptions. https://bulletins.psu.edu/university-course-descriptions/undergraduate/stat/. current University Bulletins (the BMB, BIOL and NUTR course pages show the 2026–27 edition). Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Mathematicians and Statisticians. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/mathematicians-and-statisticians.htm. OOH page last modified October 29, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Data Sciences, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/engineering/data-sciences-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Mathematics, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/eberly-science/mathematics-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- The Pennsylvania State University. Actuarial Science, B.S.. https://bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/smeal-business/actuarial-science-bs/. 2026–2027 Undergraduate Bulletin. Checked .
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Data Scientists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.