UTA earns significant NSF grant for math scholars

Monday, Feb 16, 2026 • Drew Davison :

The National Science Foundation has awarded a six-year, nearly $2 million grant to The University of Texas at Arlington to provide scholarships for qualified undergraduate mathematics students.

The program was developed to address the national need to grow the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce and nurture talent essential for economic competitiveness and leadership across critical sectors. At UT Arlington, the Math S-STEM program was launched in 2008 to provide math scholarships to qualified students, an initiative that has now seen 155 scholarship recipients earn bachelor’s degrees in mathematics.

The new NSF award will allow UTA to continue offering scholarships of up to $15,000 annually to qualified students pursuing degrees in the mathematical sciences. Mentorship is central to the program, with faculty meeting regularly with students to provide guidance on career or graduate school pathways.

UTA’s Department of Mathematics has earned national recognition for consistently producing graduates who move on to promising careers.

“One of our recent Math S-STEM scholarship recipients who earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics accepted a six-figure salaried position at a leading global technology company,” said Tuncay Aktosun, professor of mathematics. “Stories like this are not unusual for us.”

Related: UTA receives NSF grant to continue successful scholarship program for undergraduate math students

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, mathematicians and statisticians earned a median pay of $104,350 in 2024, with projected job growth of 8% through 2034—much faster than the average for all occupations. Additionally, individuals with a mathematics degree earned a median annual wage of $86,000, compared to $70,000 for all degree holders.

“Mathematics is incredibly versatile and used in a wide range of fields including defense companies, engineering, actuarial science, banking, and technology,” Dr. Aktosun said. “A strong mathematics background develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Employers consistently tell us they value math degrees.”

Along with Aktosun, the Math S-STEM team includes UTA professors Jianzhong Su, Ruth Gornet, Barbara Shipman and Hristo Kojouharov.

--

The UTA College of Science, a Carnegie R1 research institution, is preparing the next generation of leaders in science through innovative education and hands-on research and offers programs in Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Data Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Health Professions, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. To support educational and research efforts visit the giving page, or if you're a prospective student interested in beginning your #MaverickScience journey visit our future students page.