yale statistics phd reddit

The Department offers a broad training program comprised of the main areas of statisical theory (with emphasis on foundations, Bayes theory, decision theory, nonparametric statistics), probability theory (stochastic processes, asymptotics, weak convergence), information theory, econometrics, classification, statistical computing, and graphical methods.

With this background, graduates of the program have found excellent positions in universities, industry, and government. Recent graduates have accepted appointments at the Duke University, University of California at Santa Barbara, The City University of New York, Yale University, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, RAND, Federal Reserve Board, New York University, Trinity University, Iowa State University, Merck, and Tulane University.

All applications for this program should be submitted directly to the Yale Graduate School Office of Admissions through the online application page.

• Application requirements and guidelines
• GRE scores for the General Test and for the Subject Test (usually in Mathematics, sometimes in the area of the undergraduate major) should accompany an application.
• All applicants should have a strong mathematical background, including advanced calculus, linear algebra, elementary probability theory, and at least one course providing an introduction to mathematical statistics. An undergraduate major may be in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or in a subject in which significant statistical problems may arise.
• For those whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required.
• The Ph.D. program admits only a small number of new students each year. Only 6 initial offers (for a pool of 73 applications) were made for admission in fall 2010.
• The offer of admission typically includes full tuition and a stipend. Consult the Graduate School's financial assistance page for details.
• Tuition and Living Costs

Course of Study

• Fourteen courses are required before students can be admitted to candidacy after the second year. Usually students take four courses in each semester of the first year and three courses in each semester of the second year.
• Ph.D. students are strongly advised to take the courses highlighted in RED , which are taught every year, even if they involve some review of material taken in undergraduate courses. Substitutions are possible with the permission of the DGS.
• The theory qualifying exam is usually based on a combination of advanced undergraduate material (as covered in Stat 241, 242, and 251/551) and graduate material at the level of Stat 600, 610, and 612.
• For the practical qualifying exam, students are expected to be comfortable with R, and have had experience at working with real data. Most students gain that experience from a combination of Stat 661, 625 and participation in the statistical consulting clinic (Stat 627).

Normally during the first two years, fourteen term courses in this and other departments are taken to prepare students for research and practice of statistics. These include courses devoted to case studies and practical work, for which students prepare a written report and give an oral presentation. Specific course requirements .

There is no foreign language requirement.

The SPEAK test

For further details consult that web site.

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Teaching requirements

Qualifying examinations.

• Practical Exam: a written report on an analysis of a data set. Held during a five day period in December, following the end of classes.
• Theory Exam: a written paper on theoretical statistics. A one-day exam (9:00 am -- 4:00 pm) held in early January.
• Oral Exam: held shortly after completion of the Theory Exam.
• A typical theory exam . [Look at http://www.stat.yale.edu/dept-private/Exams/ for copies of other old exams.Yale login required].
• Well prepared students sometimes take one of the Practical or Theory Exams in their first year. No record is kept of an unsuccesful attempt.
• Students who do not pass the exams during January/December of their second year have the option of a retake at the end of the spring semester.

Prospectus and Dissertation

Dissertation research in collaboration with one member of the faculty is begun during the third year. A prospectus for the dissertation should be submitted no later than the first week of March in the third year. The prospectus must be accepted by the department before the end of the third year.

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and the prospectus (as well as meeting the Graduate School Honors requirements), the student is admitted to candidacy. Most students complete the dissertation in the fifth year.

Please see our Alumni page for a sampling of recent Dissertation topics.

Dissertation fellowships

Further information.

Consult the Graduate School's Programs and Policies for general information about Ph.D. study at Yale.

• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2025 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

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Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

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Yale College Programs of Study 2024–2025

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Statistics and Data Science

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• Summary of Requirements
• Certificate

Directors of undergraduate studies: Sekhar Tatikonda  and Brian MacDonald; statistics.yale.edu ; Major FAQ and guide ; undergraduate major checklist

Statistics is the science and art of prediction and explanation. The mathematical foundation of statistics lies in the theory of probability, which is applied to problems of making inferences and decisions under uncertainty. Practical statistical analysis also uses a variety of computational techniques, methods of visualizing and exploring data, methods of seeking and establishing structure and trends in data, and a mode of questioning and reasoning that quantifies uncertainty. Data science expands on statistics to encompass the entire life cycle of data, from its specification, gathering, and cleaning, through its management and analysis, to its use in making decisions and setting policy. This field is a natural outgrowth of statistics that incorporates advances in machine learning, data mining, and high-performance computing, along with domain expertise in the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, management, medicine, and digital humanities.

Students majoring in Statistics and Data Science take courses in both mathematical and practical foundations. They are also encouraged to take courses in the discipline areas listed below.

The B.A. in Statistics and Data Science is designed to acquaint students with fundamental techniques in the field. The B.S. prepares students to participate in research efforts or to pursue graduate school in the study of data science.

Courses for Nonmajors and Majors

S&DS 100 and S&DS 101–109 and S&DS 123 (YData) assume knowledge of high-school mathematics only. Students who complete one of these courses should consider taking S&DS 230 . This sequence provides a solid foundation for the major. Other courses for nonmajors include S&DS 110 and 160 .

Prerequisites

Multivariable calculus is required and should be taken before or during the sophomore year. This requirement may be satisfied by one of MATH 120 , ENAS 151 , MATH 230 , MATH 302 , or the equivalent.

Requirements of the Major

Students who wish to major in Statistics and Data Science are encouraged to take S&DS 220 or a 100-level course followed by S&DS 230 . Students should complete the calculus prerequisite and linear algebra requirement ( MATH 222 or 225  or 226 ) as early as possible, as they provide mathematical background that is required in many courses.

B.A. degree program The B.A. degree program requires eleven courses, ten of which are from the seven discipline areas described below: MATH 222 or 225  or 226 from Mathematical Foundations and Theory; two courses from Core Probability and Statistics; two courses that provide Computational Skills; two courses on Methods of Data Science; and three courses from any of the discipline areas subject to DUS approval. The remaining course is fulfilled through the senior requirement.

B.S. degree program The B.S. degree program requires fourteen courses, including all the requirements for the B.A. degree. Specifically, B.S. degree candidates must take  S&DS 242  and  S&DS 365 to fulfill the B.A. requirements. The three remaining courses include one course chosen from the Mathematical Foundations and Theory discipline and two courses chosen from Core Probability and Statistics (not including S&DS 242 ), Computational Skills, Methods of Data Science (not including S&DS 365 ), Mathematical Foundations and Theory, or Efficient Computation and Big Data discipline areas subject to DUS approval. 

Discipline Areas The seven discipline areas are listed below.

Core Probability and Statistics These are essential courses in probability and statistics. Every major should take at least two of these courses, and should probably take more. Students completing the B.S. degree must take S&DS 242 .

Examples of such courses include : S&DS 238 , 241 , 242 , 312 , 351

Computational Skills Every major should be able to compute with data. While the main purpose of some of these courses is not computing, students who have taken at least two of these courses will be capable of digesting and processing data. While there are other courses that require more programming, at least two courses from the following list are essential.

Examples of such courses include : S&DS 220 or 230 , 262 , 265 , 425 , CPSC 100 or 112 , or 201 or  ENAS 130  

Methods of Data Science These courses teach fundamental methods for dealing with data. They range from practical to theoretical. Every major must take at least two of these courses. Students completing the B.S. degree must take S&DS 365 .

Examples of such courses include : S&DS 312 , 317 , 361 , 363 , 365 , 430 , 431 , 468 , EENG 400 , CPSC 446 , 452 , 477

Mathematical Foundations and Theory All students in the major must know linear algebra as taught in MATH 222 or 225  or 226 . Students who have learned linear algebra through other courses (such as MATH 230 , MATH 231 ) may substitute another course from this category. Students pursuing the B.S. degree must take at least two courses from this list and those students contemplating graduate school should take additional courses from this list as electives.

Examples of such courses include : S&DS 364 , 400 , 410 , 411 , CPSC 365 , 366 , 469 , MATH 222 , 225 , 226 , 244 , MATH 250 , 255 , 256 , 260 , MATH 300 ,  MATH 301 , or 302

Efficient Computation and Big Data These courses are for students focusing on programming or implementation of large-scale analyses and are not required for the major. Students who wish to work in the software industry should take at least one of these.

Examples of such courses include : CPSC 223 , 323 , 424 , 437

Data Science in Context Students are encouraged to take courses that involve the study of data in application areas. Students learn how data are obtained, how reliable they are, how they are used, and the types of inferences that can be made from them. These course selections should be approved by the director of undergraduate studies (DUS).

Examples of such courses include : ANTH 376 , EVST 362 , GLBL 191 , 195 , LING 229 , 234 , 380 , PLSC 454 , PSYC 258

Methods in Application Areas These are methods courses in areas of applications. They help expose students to the cultures of fields that explore data. These course selections should be approved by the DUS.

Examples of such courses include : CPSC 453 , 470 , 475 , ECON 136 , 420 , EENG 445 , S&DS 352 , LING 227

Substitution Some substitution, particularly of advanced courses, may be permitted with DUS approval.

Credit/D/Fail   Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major (this includes prerequisite courses).

Senior Requirement

Students in both the B.A. degree program and B.S. degree program complete the senior requirement by completing an individual research project. Courses for research opportunities include S&DS 491 or 492 (but not both), and must be advised by a member of the department of Statistics and Data Science or by a faculty member in a related discipline area. 

Students intending to major in Statistics and Data Science should consult the department guide and FAQ . Statistics and Data Science can be taken either as a primary major or as one of two majors, in consultation with the DUS. Appropriate majors to combine with Statistics and Data Science include programs in the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics. A statistics concentration is also available within the Applied Mathematics major.

Combined B.S./M.A. degree program Exceptionally able and well-prepared students may complete a course of study leading to the simultaneous award of the B.S. in S&DS and M.A. in Statistics after eight terms of enrollment. See Academic Regulations, section L, Special Academic Arrangements , "Simultaneous Award of the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees." Interested students should consult the DUS at the beginning of their fifth term of enrollment for specific requirements in Statistics and Data Science.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites Both degrees —one of MATH 120 , ENAS 151 , MATH 230 , MATH 302 , or equivalent

Number of courses B.A. —11 term courses beyond prereqs (incl senior req); B.S. —14 term courses beyond prereqs (incl senior req)

Specific courses required B.A. — MATH 222 or MATH 225  or MATH 226 ; B.S. —same as B.A. degree, although 1 Core Probability and Statistics course must be S&DS 242  and 1 Methods of Data Science course must be S&DS 365

Distribution of courses B.A. —2 courses from Core Probability and Statistics, 2 courses from Computational Skills, 2 courses from Methods of Data Science, and 3 electives chosen from any discipline area with DUS approval; B.S. —same, plus 1 Mathematical Foundations and Theory course and 2 additional electives from any discipline area (except Data Science in Context and Methods in Application Areas) with DUS approval

Substitution permitted With DUS approval

Senior requirement Both d egrees —Senior Project ( S&DS 491 or S&DS 492 )

Prerequisites for B.S. Degree and B.A. Degree

• one of MATH 120 , ENAS 151 , MATH 230 , MATH 302 , or equivalent

Requirements for B.S. Degree

14 courses (14 credits), beyond the prerequisites, but including the senior requirement

• 1 Mathematical Foundations and Theory course from MATH 222 , MATH 225 , or MATH 226
• 2 Core Probability and Statistics courses, to include S&DS 242
• 2 Computational Skills courses
• 2 Methods of Data Science courses, to include S&DS 365
• 1 additional Mathematical Foundations and Theory course
• 5 electives chosen from any discipline area (except Data Science in Context and Methods in Application Areas) with DUS approval
• S&DS 491 or S&DS 492

Requirements for B.A. Degree 

11 courses (11 credits), including the senior requirement, but not the prerequisites

• 1 of  MATH 222 , MATH 225 , or MATH 226
• 2 Core Probability and Statistics courses
• 2 Methods of Data Science courses
• 3 electives chosen from any discipline area with DUS approval
• S&DS 491 or  S&DS 492

Statistics and data science is the art of answering complex questions from numerical facts, called data. The mathematical foundation of statistics lies in the theory of probability, which is applied to make inferences and decisions under uncertainty. Practical statistical analysis also uses a variety of computational techniques, methods of visualizing and exploring data, methods of seeking and establishing structure and trends in data, and a mode of questioning and reasoning that quantifies uncertainty. Knowledge of statistics is necessary for conducting research in the sciences, medicine, industry, business, and government. Data science expands on statistics to encompass the entire life cycle of data, from its specification, gathering, and cleaning, through its management and analysis, to its use in making decisions and setting policy. This field is a natural outgrowth of statistics that incorporates advances in machine learning, data mining, and high-performance computing, along with domain expertise in the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, management, medicine, and digital humanities.

S&DS 100 and the 101–106 group provide an introduction to statistics and data science with no mathematics prerequisite. These courses are alternatives; they do not form a sequence. Each course in the S&DS 101–106 group emphasizes applications to a particular field of study and is taught jointly by two instructors, one specializing in statistics and the other in the relevant area of application (life sciences, political science, social sciences, medicine, or data analysis). The half-term, half-credit course S&DS 109 offers the same introduction to statistics as the 101–106 group, but without applications to a specific field.

S&DS 123 (YData) is an introduction to data science that emphasizes developing skills, especially computational and programming skills, along with inferential thinking. YData is designed to be accessible to students with little or no background in computing, programming, or statistics, but is also engaging for more technically oriented students through the extensive use of examples and hands-on data analysis. In addition, there are associated YData seminars, half-credit courses in a specific domain developed for extra hands-on experience motivated by real problems in a specific domain.

S&DS 230 emphasizes practical data analysis and the use of the computer and has no mathematics prerequisite.

For students with sufficient preparation in mathematics, S&DS 238 covers essential ideas of probability and statistics, together with an introduction to data analysis using modern computational tools.

The sequence S&DS 241 and S&DS 242 offers the mathematical foundation for the theory of probability and statistics, and is required for most higher-level courses. Some courses require only S&DS 241 as a prerequisite.

Certificate in Data Science

The Certificate in Data Science is designed for students majoring in disciplines other than Statistics and Data Science to acquire the knowledge to promote mature use of data analysis throughout society. Students gain the necessary knowledge base and useful skills to tackle real-world data analysis challenges. Students who complete the requirements for the certificate are prepared to engage in data analysis in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences and engineering and are able to manage and investigate quantitative data research and report on that data.

Refer to the S&DS website for more information. Students must declare their intent to earn a certificate by the last day of add/drop period in their final term of enrollment. This is done on the  Declare Major, Concentration within the Major, Certificate  page on  Yale Hub . Once declared, Degree Audit will track students' progress toward completion of the certificate.

Prerequisite

The suggested prerequisite for the certificate is an introductory course, selected from one of the following courses: S&DS 100 , 101–109, or  123 , or an introductory data analysis course from another department.

Requirements of the Certificate

To fulfill the requirements of the certificate, students must take five courses from four different areas of statistical data analysis. No course may be applied to satisfy the requirements of both a major and the certificate. No single course may count for two areas of study. Students are required to earn at least a B– for each course.

Probability and Statistical Theory  One from S&DS 238 , 240 , 241 , 242 . Advanced students may substitute S&DS 351 or S&DS 364  or EENG 431 .

Students are  held to   the Statistical Methodology and Data Analysis  requirements  that were in place when they  declared their intent to earn the S&DS Certificate .  However, with approval from the director   of  undergraduate studies (DUS), the following requirements, updated for the academic year 2024-2025,   may be  fulfilled by students who declared their intent to earn the certificate  in a prior term.

Statistical Methodology and Data Analysis  Two from S&DS 220 or  230  (but not both), 242 , 312 , 361 , 363 , PLSC 349 .  ECON 136 may be substituted for S&DS 242 .

Computation & Machine Learning  One from S&DS 262 , 265 ,  317 , 365 , CPSC 223 , 477 , PHYS 378 , PLSC 468 .  CPSC 323 may be substituted for CPSC 223 .

Data Analysis in a Discipline Area  Two half-credit courses or one full-credit course from those approved for this requirement and listed on the S&DS website .

Searchable attributes   YC S&DS: Data Analy Disc Area , YC S&DS: Methods Data Science

More information about the certificate, including how to register, is available on the S&DS website .

Summary of Requirements 

Prerequisite 1 term course from S&DS 100 , 101–109, or  123 (or an introductory data analysis course in another department)

Number of courses  5 term courses

Distribution of courses  1 probability and statistical theory course; 2 statistical methodology and data analysis courses; 1 computational and machine learning course; and 2 half-credit courses or 1 course in discipline area, as specified

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS and Data Science

Professors  †Donald Andrews, Andrew Barron, †Jeffrey Brock, Joseph Chang, †Katarzyna Chawarska, †Xiaohong Chen, †Nicholas Christakis, †Ronald Coifman, †James Duncan, John Emerson ( Adjunct ), †Alan Gerber, †Mark Gerstein, Anna Gilbert, John Hartigan ( Emeritus ), †Edward Kaplan, †Harlan Krumholz, John Lafferty, Zongming Ma, David Pollard ( Emeritus ), †Nils Rudi, Jasjeet Sekhon, †Donna Spiegelman, Daniel Spielman, †Hemant Tagare, †Van Vu, Yihong Wu, †Heping Zhang, †Hongyu Zhao, Harrison Zhou, †Steven Zucker

Associate Professors  †P. M. Aronow, †Forrest Crawford, †Joshua Kalla, †Amin Karbasi, †Vahideh Manshadi, Ethan Meyers ( Visiting ), Sekhar Tatikonda 

Assistant Professors  Elisa Celis, Sinho Chewi, Zhou Fan, †Melody Huang, Roy Lederman, Lu Lu, Theodor Misiakiewicz, Omar Montasser, †Fredrik Savje, †Dustin Scheinost, †Ramina Sotoudeh, †Andre Wibisono, Zhuoran Yang, †Ilker Yildirim, Ilias Zadik

Senior Lecturers †William Casey King, Brian Macdonald, Jonathan Reuning-Scherer

Lecturer  Robert Wooster

†A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department or school.

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Yale MPH stats (acceptance rate, average GPA/GRE)

• Thread starter chriskyk
• Start date Sep 28, 2010

Full Member

• Sep 28, 2010

http://publichealth.yale.edu/admissions/about/profile.aspx  

Thanks so what do you think about my chances of getting in?  

You're a good candidate. I'm not gunna say ur definitely going to get in because i can't really say that about anyone but I think you could be competitive. Those stats definitely don't preclude you from applying. P.S. I'm at Yale now. If ur curious, my stats as well as those of others from last year who went to/got into Yale are bouncing around the boards somewhere so feel free to check them out.  

• Sep 29, 2010

Do you mind sharing some of the accepted students' stats? I couldn't find them.  

Thanks werd814 ! Another 2 questions: 1. Are interviews required for Yale's MPH program? 2. If I hand in my applications within these 2 weeks will I get a reply before December (the admission office claimed they started sending out replies by late November)? Cheers, Chris  

chriskyk said: Thanks werd814 ! Another 2 questions: 1. Are interviews required for Yale's MPH program? 2. If I hand in my applications within these 2 weeks will I get a reply before December (the admission office claimed they started sending out replies by late November)? Cheers, Chris Click to expand...

Thanks man. So I'm actually appplying for the social and behavioral track as 1st choice, environmental health as 2nd choice. Are these less competitive than the others? Because I always hear people applying for Chronic Disease Epidemiology or Biostatistics  

chriskyk said: Thanks man. So I'm actually appplying for the social and behavioral track as 1st choice, environmental health as 2nd choice. Are these less competitive than the others? Because I always hear people applying for Chronic Disease Epidemiology or Biostatistics Click to expand...

- The only division that requires an interview is health management, which is similar to other MHA/MHSA programs. - From what I remember, the deadline for apps is ~Jan 15th and the admitted student's open house was in late March. So expect to hear back somewhere in between. - Periodically, the admissions office hosts a webchat for prospective students. If you're super keen on attending Yale, I'd recommend checking that out and asking any other questions. Good luck with the apps and feel free to pm me if you have any other questions  

• Oct 2, 2010

Is my GPA qualified for Yale? It seems like many applicants have much higher GPAs than I do... I hope my research and work experience would make up for it  

chriskyk said: Is my GPA qualified for Yale? It seems like many applicants have much higher GPAs than I do... I hope my research and work experience would make up for it Click to expand...

• Oct 3, 2010

Right I figured it's a tough question to answer haha. So does that mean not all accepeted Yale MPH students have high GPAs but instead are all special to some extent? In other words, since I have quite a lot of work and research experience. My application would make me stand out of the crowd?  

Ok here. Let me put it this way. I don't think you will be wasting your application fee applying to Yale with what you have told us, i think you would be competitive but logic dictates that its never too smart to put all your eggs in one basket. I don't know what your competing against and I don't know exactly what Yale is looking for...so its really tough to answer questions like that. Be honest about your passion for public health and motives for entering the field in your application and hope for the best.  

Thanks for the advice! I hope they will accept me in any of my 2 concentrations.  

The One & Only, DJ Tiesto!

I applied with a 3.6, double major and with honors, 2.5 years research, multiple jobs over 5 years, tons and tons of EC, had 680Q, 340V, 3.5A, and didn't get in. I got into Columbia and UMich though. Take it how you will. If you have any questions about Columbia, let me know.  

• Oct 4, 2010

Wow, yeah looks like Yale's selection is much more than academics. They pick special students instead of smart students only. I was going to apply for Columbia but I don't think I'll get in. I heard people say it's more competitive than Yale  

chriskyk said: Wow, yeah looks like Yale's selection is much more than academics. They pick special students instead of smart students only. I was going to apply for Columbia but I don't think I'll get in. I heard people say it's more competitive than Yale Click to expand...

• Oct 5, 2010

Yeah so I'm applying Yale, Emory, USC, NYU and Tufts. What do you think?  

• Oct 12, 2010

Hey so who are applying for Yale and mind sharing your stats (GPA,GRE, expereience)? My stats are found at the very top of this post for reference.  

Hi! I'm also applying to Yale. GPA:3.3 GRE: 540V 680Q 4.5AW 2 years research experience, 700 hours of volunteer experience, a summer internship, tutoring athletes in my major, and graduating in December and hoping to have a related job for 8 months. I don't know what our chances are of getting in, but your experience looks slightly better than mine. Good luck! P.S. How soon are you submitting your apps?  

Epi2013 said: Hi! I'm also applying to Yale. GPA:3.3 GRE: 540V 680Q 4.5AW 2 years research experience, 700 hours of volunteer experience, a summer internship, tutoring athletes in my major, and graduating in December and hoping to have a related job for 8 months. I don't know what our chances are of getting in, but your experience looks slightly better than mine. Good luck! P.S. How soon are you submitting your apps? Click to expand...

• Oct 13, 2010

Epi2013 said: I actually just submitted my app tonight, but the GRE score and transcripts are still in the mail. I'm hoping they get there soon, but I haven't heard anything about Columbia making any decisions before March. oh well! I still have 5 more personal statements to go and jobs to apply for so I've got lots of stuff to keep my mind off waiting. Click to expand...

I'm not sure if they have rolling admissions or not. I just like to get things done early.  

• Oct 14, 2010

-----------  

• Oct 15, 2010

werd814 said: Chrskyk, I think you have a very good shot, though one can rarely be certain-- surely don't let your stats keep you from applying... I mean, it is public health, heh. Here's me in a nutshell: I went down for what turned out to be a very personal info session in November (loved it), mailed my app in mid December, heard back mid January, but I also know people who submitted and didn't hear back until April. GRE: 710v (99%), 760q (... I don't remember the %ile), 4.0w (50ish%ile I think) GPA: 3.39 (3.5 science/math) in Environmental Bio, Chemistry from a "top ranked" liberal arts college in New England Experience: lots of public health research in the mountains, a bit in Maine, some in Boston; study-abroad in Tanzania; taught kiddos at an ashram in India; some college extracurriculars (nothing spectacular) Recs: I think they were pretty decent (but who really knows) Cross-admit: Harvard (ScM), and I was flown out to UW for an interview (MS), but withdrew my app before I heard a decision Rejection: "Final Round" (whatever that means) rejection from Berkeley (MS) ASPH lists MPH application admission rates by school. Though it says nothing about the "quality" of the students applying (I can only assume people apply to schools that cater to their clinical/research interests), the ASPH list should help to ease your concerns . http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=749 2009 Acceptance Rates: Yale: 39.7% (505/1271) Emory: 59.3% (1365/2300) Columbia: 62.3% (1237/1987) Tufts: no ASPH data NYU: no ASPH data USC: no ASPH data Don't fret it; you'll be fine =). Click to expand...

Dissertator

• Oct 19, 2010

chriskyk said: Hey werd814, Thanks for the great advice and details! So where you end up studying now and how do you like the campus? I'm also applying for Dartmouth's MPH, do you know anything about it? Cheers, Chriskyk Click to expand...

Dissertator said: I'm also applying to Dartmouth and would be interested in any information about their program. In particular, since I have an advanced degree (and will have a PhD by the time I enter) I'm thinking about not sending them my GREs, but would this be a mistake? They are 600V, 610Q and 5.5W. I'm afraid I won't be considered for funding if I don't send them. Click to expand...

citrusguy2010

• Oct 24, 2010

don't worry about the stats too much. I got into Yale with a 3.4 and 1300 (720, 680, 4.5W) and also into Columbia.  

citrusguy2010 said: don't worry about the stats too much. I got into Yale with a 3.4 and 1300 (720, 680, 4.5W) and also into Columbia. Click to expand...

• Nov 3, 2010

Yo any Yale MPH applicants here? Have you submitted your applications? How long should we expect to get a reply from the school (starting from the time the school receives the entire application)?  

• Nov 4, 2010

chriskyk said: Yo any Yale MPH applicants here? Have you submitted your applications? How long should we expect to get a reply from the school (starting from the time the school receives the entire application)? Click to expand...

parapluie said: chriskyk, I am considering Yale but still trying to pull my SOPHAS app together. I'm also interested in the social & behavioral stream. I'm just wondering: what is it about Yale that makes you so drawn to it? I'm a Canadian student from University of Toronto and I'm still trying to research into which schools are strong in health promotion and behavioral MPH streams, so at this point I don't know much about this for Yale at all and I'd love to hear some input from you or anyone else interested. Thanks! Click to expand...

• Nov 5, 2010

chriskyk said: Hey, what draws me so much to Yale's MPH program is that they have a good connection of organizations/companies for its students to have their internships. If you go to its website and search for the possible internship sites, you'll know what I mean. Because of Yale's reputation around the world, it's no surprise that it hooks up with many international well-known organizations. I believe this connection would allow us to earn hands-on experience at those organizations and eventually future career opportunities. Are you interested in the global health concentration provided by the school too? I'm actually from Hong Kong but studies in University of Illinois in the states. My goal is to take away knowledge from studying health care systems around different parts of the world. Click to expand...

parapluie said: Thanks for the reply! Yes that does make sense...I was just wondering if big names in academia in general would mean as much in the field of public health...because I know Yale isn't ranked exceptionally high (16th last time I checked) as far as public health schools are concerned. But I do agree with you regarding the internships. Sadly I don't think I have the emotional capacity to work in global health--it seems like an overwhelming area to go into with an equally overwhelming number of problems, and I know for a fact that as of now, at least, my experiences don't justify the choice to go into the field. The only thing I REALLY want is the SBS stream And maybe chronic disease epi. Click to expand...

• Nov 13, 2010

hey there...so i also plan to aplly to yale for the health policy and management course... i have an ok gre score (verbal 570 and quantitative 650) and my gpa is 3.9...its ok i suppose but is it good enough to get me to yale?  

hisris said: hey there...so i also plan to aplly to yale for the health policy and management course... i have an ok gre score (verbal 570 and quantitative 650) and my gpa is 3.9...its ok i suppose but is it good enough to get me to yale? Click to expand...

Wow you guys are really good. Makes me feel my chance is slim... My GPA is 3.36, with 460 and 760 on verbal and math respectively for GRE. Had a few part-time on campus jobs, volunteering abroad experiences and having an internship with UN this spring. I hope Yale is not just focusing on applicants' academics  

• Nov 15, 2010

chriskyk said: Wow you guys are really good. Makes me feel my chance is slim... My GPA is 3.36, with 460 and 760 on verbal and math respectively for GRE. Had a few part-time on campus jobs, volunteering abroad experiences and having an internship with UN this spring. I hope Yale is not just focusing on applicants' academics Click to expand...

intlhealth2010

• Nov 22, 2010

Hey Everyone, I'm applying to Yale's MPH program as I'm very interested in combining their Health Policy & Administration Track with the Global Health Concentration. Are there any current YSPH MPH students who could give me any insight about the program? (Especially the Global Health Concentration) Since I do not hold a medical degree or PhD, I will be applying for the traditional 2-year MPH. I am a bit confused about their Global Health Concentration; they make it seem as if you can only qualify for it once you are already in the program. IF this is true, it seems like quite a turn off. I will be taking out loans to pay for what seems to be a rather expensive program, and I'd like to know I will be doing Global Health upon admittance, not after completing one year of the MPH. Also, I am a bit miffed by Yale's low ranking on the current US News List. For a school like Yale, I was actually quite surprised. Doesn't small class size and excellent internship/job placement usually translate to high rankings? Does Yale lack any resources that one might find at some of the higher ranked Public Health Programs? There must be some reason that it's so low. And Finally, does anyone know if there is any scholarship or funding available for YSPH MPH students? If anyone could answer some of these questions I would be very grateful!  

• Nov 23, 2010

Let me jump on this-- people have a tendency to hate on Yale, without non-Ranking-based data or information to back up their points... so be wary. Also, keep in mind that I'm a current student. So, though I try not to be, I'm certainly biased, but I'm also decently informed on Yale's strengths and weaknesses. I think it's also important to note that Yale was ranked as the 3rd best PhD program in public health by the National Research Council ( http://chronicle.com/article/An-Elaborate-Ranking-of/124633/ ). There are many theories as to why Yale is ranked so poorly in US News. I'm a fan of Stories' (a fellow Yalie) school of thought, which attributes our low rank to the size of our graduating classes. As you probably know, US News' PH rankings are based solely on reputation. So, large schools pumping out graduates have the advantage of high exposure (the more graduates, the more PH professionals with the "School X" brand). Yale, however, has a very small chance of having their students interact with every professional/academician polled for the US News ranking, and, thereby, have no reason to rat Yale positively or negatively. Stories made a graph, once, correlating USNews rank directly with school size... I can't remember where (s)he posted it, though. Rank aside, Yale has so many strengths. Small class-sizes for one. Collaborations with the medical school, business school, and law school, which are among the best in the world. World class research faculty (The Chronicle of Higher Education puts Yale as the most productive public health faculty in the US [ http://chronicle.com/stats/productivity/page.php?year=2007&institution=702&byinst=Go] ). Yale students really care about what they're doing; Yale University as a whole provides an environment of passion, activism, intellectualism, and opportunity that is second to very few (I recently joined a club of PH, Med, Law, and College students geared toward improving global access to essential medicines, and an HIV/AIDS activism group that has gotten the attention of the President, John Kerry, the NYTimes, NY Mag, the Associated Press, Boston Globe, etc.). Money, money money: grant funds are AMPLY available for studies and internships domestic or abroad. Yale also certainly has weaknesses. The most important weakness is probably its most important strength: small class-size. Yale caters (very well) to many research topics and areas of public health expertise/concern, but not as vastly or diversely as larger universities. If a Yale professor's research floats your boat, you're golden (and in a good position to work with them... accessing most professors here is small-liberal-arts-school kind of easy). Unfortunately, if they don't, you're likely to be out of luck. HOWEVER, if you're not really interested in research, the MPH program certainly provides a strong foundation in the broad fundamentals of public health. Yale also doesn't allot copious amounts of money to PH facilities (like it does to, say, LAW or the school of management). Maintenance is certainly good here (in fact, they're currently remodeling the PH building), but we haven't had a new building since the 60's. While Yale is a certified school of public health (and the oldest department of public health in the nation), it is still a department within the school of medicine. So, much of the facilities funding that should go to us, gets usurped by YSM (yale med). Here are some other threads that may be helpful: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=495438&highlight=yale (My internal struggle between Harvard and Yale) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=712715&highlight=yale  

I think I can also answer your question about the global health concentration (GHC), as I'm currently applying for it myself. So, GHC is an additional concentration-- it's more of a supplement to a concentration than a concentration itself. Yale had one of the first global health programs in the nation, but did away with it in the early 2000s because they felt it was a somewhat hollow/disjointed concentration. They felt that global health was too much to teach in a two-year MPH, and that, insofar as it pertains to an MPH degree, a GHC should be more of a nuance of one of the 6 concentrations it already offered (Chronic disease epi, environmental health, etc.) than a concentration offering itself. So, GHC is now a sub-concentration. Because of this, you must be accepted to Yale MPH for one of the six core concentrations (CDE, EHS, etc.) before you can be considered for GHC. As far as I know, though, you don't have to enroll to be considered for the concentration. I think they're trying to make it more selective this year, because last year they accepted everyone who applied (and was accepted to YSPH) and now the cohort of GHCers is a bit too large for their liking. I actually had a discussion with one of the GHC admins the other day about keeping GHC open to all who are interested (forget selectivity... the more who are informed about global health, the better I think)... we'll see how that goes, though. I think they'll pretty much accept those who apply, are accepted to YSPH, and have an already-established background in global health. But, non-GHC YSPH students are always able to take the GHC classes/seminars and attend GHC events, and once non-GHCers demonstrate an effort to get involved in these activities, they are almost certainly guaranteed acceptance to the concentration. In sum, I wouldn't much fret it. Grants of ~ 5,000/year are pretty common, and scholarship funding is certainly not too hard to come by for internships/research during the MPH summer. Full-tuition scholarships, however, are rarer (and aren't announced until March-ish). I know a few people here who've gotten them, but, again, they're not super common. Best of luck intlhealth!  

Thank you so much for your answering my questions werd814. It is great to hear from a current YSPH Student! Your explanation of the GHC concentration is very reassuring. Focusing on Global Health is an essential reason as to why I'm pursuing an MPH degree; in fact, I'm only applying to schools that offer an International/Global Health Track as part of their MPH curriculum. Can I ask you about the variety/availability of placement options within Yale's practicum/internship component of the MPH? Do you feel like as an MPH student at YSPH, you have a leg up in acquiring an internship placement at some of the world's leading public health organizations? Working for an international NGO such as WHO, World Bank or the UN is my ultimate career goal. Seeing these agencies listed as internship placements on Yale's website made me light up inside!  

Life Afficianado

werd814 said: There are many theories as to why Yale is ranked so poorly in US News. I'm a fan of Stories' (a fellow Yalie) school of thought, which attributes our low rank to the size of our graduating classes. As you probably know, US News' PH rankings are based solely on reputation. So, large schools pumping out graduates have the advantage of high exposure (the more graduates, the more PH professionals with the "School X" brand). Yale, however, has a very small chance of having their students interact with every professional/academician polled for the US News ranking, and, thereby, have no reason to rat Yale positively or negatively. Stories made a graph, once, correlating USNews rank directly with school size... I can't remember where (s)he posted it, though. Click to expand...

Stories said: Thanks for the plug, werd. Here's that post from a while back: A similar plot would be obtained if any of the following were substituted on the y axis: annual budget, number of research grants, annual research funding, number of grants per faculty member, annual number of peer-reviewed publications, size of faculty, or endowment. These are all factors which would predict reputation rather strongly, and would also have an influence on the number of students. A more productive school overall is likely to have more students. I would hesitate to ascribe reputation primarily to size of student body, since there are multiple powerful confounders. Note that this is not saying anything about the true quality of a school of any given size, but reputation will be roughly proportional to net academic productivity which, in turn, relates to size and resources. Any other interpretations? Click to expand...

espre said: A similar plot would be obtained if any of the following were substituted on the y axis: annual budget, number of research grants, annual research funding, number of grants per faculty member, annual number of peer-reviewed publications, size of faculty, or endowment. These are all factors which would predict reputation rather strongly, and would also have an influence on the number of students. A more productive school overall is likely to have more students. I would hesitate to ascribe reputation primarily to size of student body, since there are multiple powerful confounders. Note that this is not saying anything about the true quality of a school of any given size, but reputation will be roughly proportional to net academic productivity which, in turn, relates to size and resources. Any other interpretations? Click to expand...

• Nov 24, 2010

espre said: A similar plot would be obtained if any of the following were substituted on the y axis: annual budget, number of research grants, annual research funding, number of grants per faculty member, annual number of peer-reviewed publications, size of faculty, or endowment. Click to expand...

• Nov 26, 2010

Wow, I'm impressed that there are many current students from Yale who are sharing their experiences. Thanks! Can anyone tell me the approximate class size of the 6 different concentrations? I'm applying for Social and Behavioral track and Environmental Health track with a global health concentration. Do I get a higher chance of acceptance if I apply for a concentration that has few students in it?  

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The Department of Economics Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2024

The Department of Economics is excited to welcome five new professors to its faculty this fall, and one new Postdoctoral Associate who will later join as a faculty member.

These esteemed scholars bring a wealth of expertise and diverse perspectives that will create exciting new research opportunities within the Department, enrich our teaching curriculum, and contribute to the vibrant Yale economics community. We are thrilled to have them join our faculty!

The new faculty members are Professor Timothy Christensen , an econometrician, Assistant Professor Mayara Felix , a trade and development economist, Assistant Professor Joel Flynn , a macroeconomist and economic theorist, Associate Professor Elliot Lipnowski , an economic theorist, and Associate Professor Pascual Restrepo , a macroeconomist and labor economist. We also welcome Cody Cook , a labor and public economist, who will serve as a Cowles Foundation Postdoctoral Associate this year and then join the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the 2025-26 academic year. You can read more about their backgrounds and research below.

Looking forward, Bentley MacLeod , a labor economist, will join as a Visiting Professor and Senior Research Scientist, starting in Spring 2025. Finally, starting in the 2025-26 academic year, we are also excited to welcome Janet Currie , a renowned public economist, to our faculty.

Timothy Christensen

Timothy Christensen joins the Department as a Professor of Economics. Before joining Yale, he was a Professor of Economics at University College London. He received a PhD in Economics from Yale in 2014. His research interests lie broadly across theoretical and applied econometrics, financial econometrics, and statistics/data science. His most recent research is at the intersection of econometrics and machine learning, where he works on the integration of unstructured data into quantitative economic modeling. He has been awarded grants by the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council.

Mayara Felix

Mayara Felix joins the Department as an Assistant Professor, after completing the 2023-2024 year as a Cowles Foundation Postdoctoral Associate. Her research is in the fields of development and international trade. She studies policies intended to improve market efficiency, such as import tariff reductions, free trade agreements, and outsourcing. A special focus of her research is firms’ responses to these policies and their implications to competition, either in labor or product markets. She thus often borrows methods and insights from the fields of labor, public, and industrial organization. Mayara received a PhD in Economics from MIT in June 2021.

Joel Flynn joins the Department as an Assistant Professor, after completing the 2023-24 year as a Cowles Foundation Postdoctoral Associate. His research is in macroeconomics and economic theory with an emphasis on business cycles and mechanism design. He has recently studied how economic uncertainty affects the transmission of monetary policy and how viral economic narratives cause macroeconomic boom-bust cycles. His mechanism design research has focused on the optimal design of two-sided matching markets and optimal contracting when contracts are incomplete. Joel graduated from MIT with a PhD in Economics in June 2023.

Elliot Lipnowski

Elliot Lipnowski joins the Department as an Associate Professor, studying microeconomic theory. His interests include information design, mechanism design, dynamic games, organizational economics, and strategic uncertainty. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo and his PhD at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Before joining Yale, he was a faculty member at the University of Chicago and at Columbia University. He currently serves as an associate editor at Theoretical Economics and at Econometrica .

Pascual Restrepo

Pascual Restrepo joins the Department as an Associate Professor. Prior to Yale, Restrepo was a Professor at Boston University. He completed a PhD in Economics at MIT and a Postdoc at the Cowles Foundation at Yale. His research explores the implications of technological change for inequality and productivity. His most recent work studies the development and adoption of new automation technologies and how they have affected the economy, firms, and labor markets.

Cody Cook joins the Department as a Cowles Postdoctoral Associate before joining as an Assistant Professor in July 2025. He is an economist who works at the intersection of public, urban, and labor economics, often focusing on the design and evaluation of policies affecting inequality in cities. His research combines large-scale datasets with tools adapted from industrial organization. Some of his recent work has studied the tradeoffs of building affordable housing in different types of neighborhoods, the distributional effects of congestion pricing, and how preferences for neighborhood amenities vary by household income. He holds a PhD from Stanford GSB.

Oh, the humanities: Can you guess the most-regretted college majors?

If you studied humanities, life sciences or law in college, there’s a better-than-40% chance you regret the choice now.

That’s the takeaway from a report by the Federal Reserve, whose researchers perennially ask college graduates whether they would choose a different field of study if they were granted a do-over.

The Fed reports levels of college satisfaction across broad academic categories in a report titled Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023 , published earlier this year.

Researchers asked college completers if they would choose a different field now.

The most-lamented majors: social and behavioral sciences, regretted by 44% of grads, followed by humanities and arts (43%), life sciences (also 43%), law (41%) and education (38%).

The least-regretted fields? Engineering, a choice regretted by only 27% of graduates, followed by computer and information sciences (31%) and health (32%).

Across all fields of study, 35% of college graduates said they would pick a different major, given a second chance.

Of course, regretting your major is not the same as regretting college. The vast majority of college graduates with bachelor's degrees -- more than 80% -- say their education helped prepare them for a well-paying job, according to a May report from Pew Research.

"There are a lot of different ways that people will get something out of their college education," said Hironao Okahana , assistant vice president and executive director of the Education Futures Lab at the American Council on Education, an umbrella group for academia. "We are preparing people who can be flexible and agile in a changing workforce and changing economy."

The Federal Reserve report draws from the 2023 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, which reached more than 11,000 adults. It provides a snapshot of America’s investment in higher education, and the perceived return on that investment.

Seventy percent of Americans enroll in education beyond high school, the report says, citing federal data. But only 37% attain a bachelor’s degree or more.

More than half of college attenders say it was worth the cost

More than half of adults who attend college feel the financial benefits exceed the costs, the Fed reports. The level of satisfaction generally rises with degree level, and with age.

Among adults ages 30-44 – millennials, essentially – who completed “some college” or a technical degree, only 20% feel the benefits outweigh the costs. The satisfaction quotient rises to 55% for millennials with bachelor’s degrees, and to 66% for those with graduate or professional degrees.

By contrast, a healthy majority of Americans ages 60 and over feel their college education was worth the investment: 75% of bachelor’s recipients, and 86% of those with advanced degrees.

A year of college in the U.S. costs $38,270 a year , on average, according to the Education Data Initiative , a research nonprofit that collects education statistics. College costs have doubled since 2000.

"These folks are looking back on their majors and making a kind of financial calculus, and asking themselves, 'Is this worth what I spent on it?' And for a lot of them, the answer is no," said Bradley Jackson , vice president of policy at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a right-leaning nonprofit.

Americans owe nearly $1.8 trillion in student loan debt, more than $40,000 per borrower, according to estimates from the education data nonprofit.

Many least-regretted majors offer good pay

Not surprisingly, many of the least-regretted college majors fall in fields that offer strong salaries.

Electrical engineers earn an average annual wage of $117,680, according to federal data. Software developers pull down $138,110 a year. Nurse practitioners earn $128,490.

Money is great, but popular majors can also segue into fulfilling careers, academic leaders say.

"Health is everything," said Dr. Michelle Lampl , director of the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University, reflecting on the large share of satisfied customers in that field.

"Everyone's life touches on and embodies health," Lampl said. "It is personal, social and global."

Internal surveys at the Atlanta university show 93% of recent graduates are satisfied with their bachelor's degrees in human health.

Salaries can be harder to track at the other end of the regretted-majors spectrum, because degrees in the liberal arts don’t necessarily correlate to specific jobs. Art and design workers earn $65,190, on average. Kindergarten teachers collect $67,790.

Humanities degrees are in sharp decline . The annual tally of bachelor’s degrees in humanities dropped from a peak of 236,826 in 2012 to 179,272 in 2022, according to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Education degrees have been dwindling for decades , according to a 2022 Pew Research report.

“I would give anything to go tell my college self, DO NOT get a master’s degree in teaching,” one Reddit user commented in a 2022 thread about most- and least-regretted degrees. “You’ll be miserable, abused, in debt & in poverty.”

Degrees in STEM fields have been rising steadily

Meanwhile, the number of degrees granted in science, technology, engineering and math has been rising steadily , federal data show.

Former President Barack Obama launched a national campaign in 2009 to boost science and math study during his administration, declaring STEM a national priority .

“We’re seeing a very enthusiastic group of young students coming into our engineering programs across the country,” said Jerome Lynch , dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. “There’s a lot of business for our graduates. There’s a lot of opportunity out there.”

Federal survey offers snapshots in time

The Federal Reserve survey began in 2013. A glimpse at past surveys suggests that some fields have risen and fallen in perceived return on investment.

In the 2013 survey , more than half of graduates in engineering, health and life sciences said the benefits of the degree outweighed the costs. The least popular majors, in terms of cost-benefit analysis, were social and behavioral sciences, humanities – and computer science.

(The survey questions were worded differently then, so a direct comparison to 2023 data isn’t possible.)

The federal report focuses on broad divisions of academia. Other reports have drilled down on the popularity of more specific fields of study.

Most regretted major: Journalism

The most popular college major in America is business, according to federal data, with about 375,000 bachelor's degrees conferred in 2022, the most recent year available. Health professions rank second, with 264,000 degrees. Rounding out the top five: Social sciences and history, biological and biomedical sciences, and psychology. (Engineering and computer science rank sixth and seventh.)

There have also been occasional polls of most- and least-loved majors. In one 2022 survey of 1,500 job candidates, the employment site ZipRecruiter enumerated the most-regretted majors:

• Journalism, regretted by 87% of grads
• Sociology, 72%
• Liberal arts and general studies, 72%
• Communications, 64%
• Education, 61%

Hotel suite or dorm room? Unpacking the college campus housing crunch

And here are the least-regretted majors:

• Computer and information sciences: 72% of grads would choose it again
• Criminology: 72%
• Engineering: 71%
• Nursing: 69%
• Health: 67%

Department of Statistics and Data Science

Terminal ma/ms programs.

The Department offers a broad training program comprised of the main areas of statistical theory (with emphasis on foundations, Bayes theory, decision theory, nonparametric statistics), probability theory, stochastic processes, asymptotics, information theory, machine learning, data analysis, statistical computing, and graphical methods.

With this background, graduates of the program have found excellent positions in industry, and government. See the list of M.A. alumni for examples.

We now offer both the 8-course M.A. in Statistics and a new 12-course M.S. in Statistics & Data Science!  Students may apply to either program but are also allowed to change between programs during their study.  Petitions for such changes should be done at the start of a new semester using the Departmental Transfer Form .

Recent placements

Very recent graduates of the terminal Master’s program have continued their graduate education at Yale, the University of Michigan School of Business, the University British Columbia, Stanford University, and Purdue University.  Other recent graduates have been employed by Oliver Wyman, Captrust, Deutsch Bank, RAAP, Progressive Leasing, Mathematica, McKinsey, 7 Eleven, and Facebook.  These are just a sample of recent graduate activity, and we encourage all alumni to keep in touch and let us know of any updates!