Actuarial Science
Calculate risk and uncertainty for insurance and finance
What You'll Study
Actuarial Science uses math, statistics, and financial theory to measure risk. Actuaries determine insurance premiums and design pension plans. It is one of the highest-paying professions but requires passing a series of difficult exams.
- Probability Theory
- Financial Mathematics
- Risk Models
- Life Contingencies
- Economics
- Corporate Finance
- Credibility Theory
- Loss Distributions
Example Classes
How to Know If You'll Like It
You'll probably enjoy this if...
- ✓You are a math genius (Top 5% skills)
- ✓You want a very high salary and low stress (once exams are done)
- ✓You are disciplined studier (exams take years)
- ✓You like predicting the future properly (probabilities)
- ✓You want a clear, structured career ladder
- ✓You want job security (insurance is forever)
You might not enjoy this if...
- ✕You struggle with calculus or stats
- ✕You dislike tests (this career IS tests)
- ✕You want a creative, free-form job
- ✕You find insurance boring
Self-Check Quiz
Answer these questions honestly to see if this major might be a good fit for you.
Do you like taking standardized tests?
Career Outcomes
Featured In-Demand Careers
Actuary
Use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to measure, manage, and mitigate financial risk and uncertainty.
Data Scientist
Analyze complex data sets to derive insights that drive business decisions. Combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial data, prepare reports, and provide insights to guide business and investment decisions.
Other Common Career Paths
- •Actuary
- •Risk Analyst
- •Underwriter
- •Data Scientist
- •Financial Planner
Industries
Try It First
Test if you like this field before committing to a major:
Look up sample "Exam P" questions (Probability) for Actuaries.
Research how car insurance rates are calculated for a teen vs an adult.
Build a risk model in Excel for a hypothetical gamble.
Related Majors
Frequently Asked Questions
If you dislike spreadsheets, yes. If you like solving math problems, no.
About 7-10 major exams. It takes 5-10 years to finish all, but you work while taking them.
Yes, 6 figures early on, and very high for Fellows (finished exams).
No, risk is always here. AI helps, but doesn't replace judgment.
Insurance companies (Geico, State Farm), Consulting (Milliman), Government.
Ready to Explore This Major?
Get personalized guidance on whether Actuarial Science is right for you and how to build a competitive profile.