Statistics

Academics

Statistics and Data Science

Statistics

Our Statistics degrees prepare students for careers that involve collecting, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data. While the programs are grounded in the mathematical and theoretical foundations of statistics, statistical software is typically used for quantifying uncertainty, modeling, understanding relationships, and making inferences. Statisticians are in high demand and often find jobs with government, finance, healthcare, and pharmaceutical companies.

Data Science

The Data Science degrees are joint programs between the Department of Statistics and the Department of Computer Science. Graduates of these programs acquire strong statistical computing and machine learning skills that prepare them to work with large and complex data sets for the primary purposes of exploration, visualization, and prediction. Career paths are abundant and are often found in industries such as technology, e-commerce, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Why Study Statistics and Data Science?

Employment Outlook

Demand for statisticians and data scientists remains strong and continues to grow as society and industry become increasingly data-rich and data-driven. These roles consistently rank among the U.S. News Top 100 Best Jobs, reflecting their strong employment outlook and expanding career opportunities.

Make money

According to salary data from Indeed.com (as of November 14, 2025), the average base salary is $94,855 for statisticians and $129,235 for data scientists. These roles are consistently recognized for their strong earning potential and comparatively low levels of workplace stress, making them highly attractive career options.

Have fun

You could be a “Moneyball”-style statistician helping sports teams choose their next star player, a biostatistician advancing new medical therapies, or part of a data science team shaping the strategy of a political campaign. Statistics and data science open the door to fascinating real-world problems and give you the chance to collaborate with smart, creative, and passionate people. It’s a field where you get to think hard, make an impact—and have fun doing it.

Explore career pathways in statistics and data science with resources from the American Statistical Association, and visit our Alumni page to see where our doctoral graduates have launched their careers.

Programs

The Department of Statistics at Western Michigan University offers the following programs:

Courses

List of courses including catalog description.
Classes are offered on a rotating basis. Plan your schedule accordingly.