An early fascination with mathematics set Gao Niu, PhD, on a path that led him to Bryant University, where he now helps students channel their analytical strengths into rewarding actuarial careers.
As an associate professor of actuarial science and the chair of Bryant’s Department of Mathematics and Economics, Niu plays a pivotal role in shaping the department’s online and on-campus programs, including the Master of Science in Actuarial Science Online program — one of the only online, asynchronous programs of its kind in the nation. He guides students through both the technical rigor and the real-world applications of actuarial science that can lead to positions in a wide range of industries that start with six-figure salaries.
“I tell our students we are in the area of risk management,” Niu says. “We want to quantify risk. You have your quantitative skills, but you also need to understand the risk itself. Then the companies dealing with this risk will hire you because of your analytical skills. The area is getting wider and wider. … You have the ultimate job security once you get through the training.”
From Research Roots to Bryant’s Faculty
Niu’s journey toward actuarial science and academia began when he emigrated with his family from China to the United States at age 19. With a love of numbers but no clear road map for where his career would take him, he experimented with different areas of math before discovering actuarial science as a way to turn his talent into purpose.
Graduate school and research projects pushed him deeper into the profession’s analytical demands.
After passing his first actuarial exam and earning his master’s at Western Illinois University, Niu considered becoming an actuarial practitioner in the field’s primary industry, insurance. Instead, he followed a peer’s encouragement to enroll in a PhD program while he worked as a consultant. Once he earned his doctorate from the University of Connecticut and passed the required exams to become a certified associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS), Niu connected with nearby Bryant University during a job search and discovered the university shared his commitment to students’ success and academic excellence.
Throughout this time, Niu has conducted research into many topics. One research project that he is particularly proud of focuses on helping families raising children with Down syndrome plan for their long-term financial security. His work examined how differing life expectancies, parental aging, and gaps in traditional retirement planning can leave these families uncertain about their future. He used actuarial modeling to outline strategies that ensure sustained financial support even after the parents are gone.
Niu encourages his students in Bryant’s undergraduate and graduate actuarial programs to pursue their research interests as well.
“We just brought a group of [undergraduate] students to northern California to a place experiencing bad flooding in the past decades,” Niu says. “We brought our students out there to do research to understand why it’s being flooded — what are the things we can help to analyze, and what are the impacts of the flood. This is considered property and casualty practice, and it’s something you can do with actuarial skill.”
A Career Path Rooted in Risk Management
While many actuarial science professionals pursue careers working for insurance companies, Niu says the field has expanded beyond its traditional boundaries. Earning an online degree in actuarial science from Bryant can now lead to a career forecasting hurricane damage or pricing rides for Uber.
Tech firms, government agencies, and even professional sporting teams, along with online real estate companies like Zillow, rely on actuarial science specialists to apply predictive modeling and other methods to develop pricing systems based on accurate risk assessments.
In the same way that a physician must earn a medical degree and obtain a license to practice medicine, actuaries in the United States advance through multiple credentialing levels before reaching the top of their profession. This is due to how much companies rely on them to remain financially stable.
One example Niu gives is how insurance companies need cost and profit estimates projected years or even decades into the future so they know what actions to take. Having actuaries who can produce accurate figures can mean the difference between billions in profits and significant losses.
“All those big numbers are based on an actuary’s calculations,” Niu explains. “How much a company pays in taxes or reports in profit depends on those estimates. Even the interest rate we assume can have a huge impact on the final figures.”
Bryant’s actuarial science programs prepare students to take credentialing exams, and many students have passed at least one exam prior to graduation. Once they’re in the field, they’ll often find that employers will pay for additional exam fees and reward them with pay increases as they reach higher credential levels.
Integrating AI and Modern Tools Into Actuarial Education
Actuarial science remains rooted in tradition, but Niu encourages his students to responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) applications to enhance their modeling and data-analysis skills.
“Students need to be able to navigate different technologies and recognize what truly works versus what only looks promising,” Niu says. “There are tools that seem impressive, but they don’t always deliver. We prepare our students by teaching both the traditional, classical theories that define actuarial science and the new technologies, including AI and software applications, that will shape its future.”
As he sees it, “In this field, they have to be ready for both.”
Niu uses a chicken coop as a metaphorical example. In the past, he says, students learned to build the coop with a screwdriver. With AI, they effectively have access to power tools, so they are expected to build ever-bigger projects, like homes and buildings.
“We give them bigger projects because they have this powerful tool,” he says. “We encourage students to explore what AI can do for them, and incorporate the technology into the classes as much as possible.”
What Sets Bryant University Apart
Niu says the faculty and students at Bryant University are as important to the school as its rigorous curriculum. He recalls how the university’s leadership went out of its way to bring him on board after he completed his doctorate, and worked with him to create his ideal position. That commitment to investing in talented educators, he says, reflects Bryant’s culture of prioritizing teaching and students’ success.
“We’re not just delivering classes. We’re really trying to build a community,” he says. “I keep [the students] in an email list, and I make sure to send them emails when companies send me, ‘Hey, Gao, can you recommend a couple of students? We’re looking for people to work with us.’”
Niu enjoys working with the energetic, hardworking, and engaged students at Bryant. When his students pass an exam or reach a benchmark in their post-college careers, they often text their former professor with the good news.
“That’s when I know I’m a positive factor in their lives,” he says. “[This major is] one where you work hard, learn theory and application, and come out with real skills. Actuarial science as a profession is a very promising career. By the time you’re fully credentialed, it’s almost like becoming a doctor.”
Learn the Risk Management Skills Needed for a Rewarding Career
Bryant University’s Master of Science in Actuarial Science Online program gives students the flexibility to earn a graduate degree from anywhere while gaining the rigorous training needed to advance in a growing profession. The asynchronous, fully online format offers five start dates each year, allowing students to begin when it fits their schedule and finish in as little as 12 months.
Courses in topics such as short-term and long-term actuarial modeling, advanced actuarial statistics, and scientific and technical communication prepare students to pass professional exams and excel in roles that demand analytical precision and clear communication.
Recognized by the Casualty Actuarial Society as a Gold Tier institution, Bryant ranks among the top programs in the nation for return on investment, according to a 2025 report by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The program’s combination of certified faculty, mentorship opportunities, and a flexible format positions graduates for success. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, actuaries have a median annual salary of $125,770 as of 2024 and are projected to see 22% job growth between 2024 and 2034.
Learn more about Dr. Gao Niu and the other industry-experienced and supportive professors at Bryant University.