See the Top 11 Global Universities for Math
Best Schools for Mathematics Research
A degree in math, at the undergraduate or graduate level, can prepare students for careers in a variety of fields, such as software development, teaching or finance.
Here are the top 11 Best Global Universities for Mathematics, including ties, as ranked by U.S. News based on academic research performance in that subject area.
10 (tie). Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
Location: Zurich
Best Global Universities overall rank: 25
Fact: The math department at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich offers a master's in data science in collaboration with the school's computer science department and information technology and electrical engineering department, according to the school's website.
10 (tie). University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Best Global Universities overall rank: 14
Fact: Nine winners of the Fields Medal, an award given every four years to distinguished mathematicians age 40 or under, have been affiliated with the University of Chicago's mathematics department, according to the school's website.
9. University of Cambridge
Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Best Global Universities overall rank: 7
Fact: Well-known alumni of the University of Cambridge's mathematics faculty include Isaac Newton, known for his laws of motion, and physicist Stephen Hawking, according to the university's website.
8. Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 1
Fact: Mathematics was the third most popular major for Harvard University undergrads who graduated in 2016, according to U.S. News data.
7. New York University
Location: New York
Best Global Universities overall rank: 28 (tie)
Fact: Master's students in New York University's math department pursue degrees not only in mathematics, but also in scientific computing as well as mathematics in finance, according to the NYU website.
6. University of Oxford
Location: Oxford, England, U.K.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 5
Fact: The University of Oxford's mathematics program traces its roots back more than 800 years, according to the Oxford Mathematical Institute's website.
5. University of California--Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California, U.S.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 4
Fact: Mathematics students at the University of California--Berkeley can participate in student groups including the Math Undergraduate Student Association and Women in Mathematics at Berkeley, according the school's website.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 2
Fact: At the 2017 Putnam Competition, a math contest for undergraduates, MIT's team came in first place. The school also boasted five of the top six individual scorers, according to the MIT website.
3. Princeton University
Location: Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 9
Fact: In 2017-2018, the mathematics department at Princeton University was the academic home of 74 faculty members, 79 graduate students and 70 undergraduates, according to the Ivy League school's website.
2. Stanford University
Location: Stanford, California, U.S.
Best Global Universities overall rank: 3
Fact: Stanford University has an undergraduate research institute in mathematics that offers students the chance to work on a research project for 10 weeks during the summer with the guidance of graduate students and professors. Students in the program receive a $7,000 stipend, as stated on the math department website.
1. Pierre and Marie Curie University
Location: Paris
Best Global Universities overall rank: 38
Fact: The math department at Pierre and Marie Curie University has four research labs, some of them jointly operated with University Paris Diderot - Paris 7 and the French National Center for Scientific Research, according to the university's website.
Learn More About Earning a Degree Overseas
Explore the differences between undergraduate programs in the U.S. and Europe, and discover scholarships for international graduate studies.
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Updated April 17, 2018: This slideshow has been updated to include ranks from the 2018 U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings.
Kelly Mae Ross is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering international higher education. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at kross@usnews.com.
