UTA earns significant NSF grant for math scholars
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.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.