Which Colleges Produce the Best Paid Graduates

July 30, 2009

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Do you want to see which of America’s elite colleges produce the best-paid graduates. You might be surprised to learn that going to Ivy Leagues colleges doesn’t necessarily give you bigger salaries. We have a list of best colleges for big salaries here. If you ever tried to research on colleges and universities, you might be familiar with the U.S. News College and Universities Rankings, but they don’t really judge the schools with how their graduates are earning at the end. This is why payscale has compiled a comprehensive college salary report that will interest a lot of prospective as well as freshmen students to take a look at:

So what college graduate earns the highest income?

Dartmouth College ranks top for helping its graduate earn a median salary of $58,000 at the beginning and by mid career their graduates are earning more than $125,000 median salary. Second, of course is MIT – not Harvard or Sanford University. MIT or Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a world class technology school that produce graduates who had a lot of talents and skills from the day one they joined the institute. Therefore, right after they graduate from MIT they earn a median salary of $71,000 per year. Same amount is earned by Harvey Mudd college graduate professionals. Sanford and Harvard did come in the top 5 paid lists though, because they do prepare famous scholars and professionals in work force.

Recession might be over or not, but there will always be jobs that will pay much higher than any other kind. If you are smart career enthusiast, you won’t be worried about employment – you will be worried about what kind of work and career field to jump into and probably thinking about making a lot of money. We want to tell you that Engineering schools were among the top ranks for producing graduates who earn the best starting salaries. But anyways, you take a look at the complete list and see for yourself if elite colleges produce high earning graduates for sure or not:

School Name School Type Starting Median Salary at Jobs Mid-Career Median Salary at Job
Dartmouth College Ivy League 58200 129000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Engineering 71100 126000
Harvard University Ivy League 60000 126000
Harvey Mudd College Engineering 71000 125000
Stanford University Engineering 67500 124000
Princeton University Ivy League 65000 124000
Colgate University Liberal Arts 51900 122000
University of Notre Dame Private 55300 121000
Yale University Ivy League 56000 120000
University of Pennsylvania Ivy League 60400 118000
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineering 62500 116000
Duke University Private 56800 116000
Bucknell University Engineering 56100 116000
Bucknell University Liberal Arts 56100 116000
California Institute of Technology (CIT) Engineering 69700 115000
Polytechnic Institute of New York University Engineering 62700 114000
Lehigh University Engineering 57400 114000
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Engineering 65300 113000
University of California, Berkeley Engineering 57100 112000
University of California, Berkeley State Schools 57100 112000
Santa Clara University Private 58000 111000
Georgetown University Private 57000 111000
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Engineering 61100 110000
Swarthmore College Liberal Arts 55900 110000
Colorado School of Mines Engineering 60000 109000
Colorado School of Mines State Schools 60000 109000
Manhattan College Private 56100 109000
Amherst College Liberal Arts 54900 109000
Haverford College Liberal Arts 46200 109000
Brown University Ivy League 52300 107000
University Of Chicago Private 51700 107000
Cornell University Engineering 58000 106000
Cornell University Ivy League 58000 106000
Lafayette College Liberal Arts 53700 106000
Bowdoin College Liberal Arts 52700 106000
Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering 58900 105000
Georgia Institute of Technology State Schools 58900 105000
Rice University Private 57900 105000
Tufts University Private 48200 105000
Dickinson College Liberal Arts 44000 105000
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Engineering 55100 104000
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) State Schools 55100 104000
Washington and Lee University Liberal Arts 51800 104000
College of the Holy Cross Liberal Arts 46600 104000
Carleton College Liberal Arts 45400 104000
University of Southern California (USC) Private 54600 103000
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) State Schools 50700 103000
Williams College Liberal Arts 49400 103000
Davidson College Liberal Arts 45800 103000
Cooper Union Engineering 61100 102000
Claremont McKenna College Liberal Arts 58300 102000
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (CalPoly) Engineering 57000 102000
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (CalPoly) State Schools 57000 102000
Fairfield University Private 50400 102000
Stevens Institute of Technology Engineering 59400 101000
Boston College Private 51500 101000
Bates College Liberal Arts 46400 101000
Fordham University Private 46100 101000
Columbia University Ivy League 57300 100000
Vanderbilt University Private 51800 100000
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Engineering 53900 99700
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Party Schools 53900 99700
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) State Schools 53900 99700
Middlebury College Liberal Arts 45000 99200
Villanova University Engineering 56700 99000
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) Engineering 61100 98800
Tulane University Party Schools 47800 98800
Clarkson University Engineering 55400 98500
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Party Schools 49700 98400
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) State Schools 49700 98400
Drexel University Engineering 54100 98000
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Engineering 57400 97600
Case Western Reserve University Engineering 56500 97500
Pomona College Liberal Arts 50500 97500
Iona College Private 47200 97500
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Engineering 52900 97400
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) State Schools 52900 97400
George Washington University (GWU) Private 48200 97300
Loyola College in Maryland Liberal Arts 45000 97300
University of Virginia (UVA) State Schools 52200 97200
Union College (NY) Liberal Arts 47200 97100
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) State Schools 51600 97000
Southern Methodist University (SMU) Private 48600 96900
Connecticut College Liberal Arts 42500 96800
San Jose State University (SJSU) State Schools 53400 96300
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) Engineering 51700 96300
Miami University State Schools 47100 96100
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut) Liberal Arts 46300 95700
Occidental College Liberal Arts 45300 95700
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) State Schools 51200 95400
St. John’s University, New York Private 50000 95400
Loyola Marymount University Private 43500 95400
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) Engineering 57300 95200
Texas A&M University State Schools 51100 95000
Johns Hopkins University Engineering 57800 94900
New York University (NYU) Private 49600 94900
Kettering University Engineering 57900 94500
Emory University Private 50600 94300
University of Colorado – Boulder (UCB) Party Schools 47100 94300
University of Colorado – Boulder (UCB) State Schools 47100 94300
University of San Francisco (USF) Private 51700 94100
Rutgers University State Schools 50000 92900
La Salle University (Philadelphia) Private 46800 92900
Pratt Institute Arts & Design 48300 92700
University of California, Irvine (UCI) State Schools 47600 92700
Wentworth Institute of Technology Engineering 55000 92400
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona State Schools 51600 92400
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Engineering 57800 92300
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology State Schools 57800 92300
Pace University Private 52200 92300
University of Michigan Engineering 51700 91900
University of Michigan State Schools 51700 91900
Franklin and Marshall College Liberal Arts 49300 91900
Wake Forest University Private 47400 91900
University of Texas (UT) – Austin Party Schools 50000 91300
University of Texas (UT) – Austin State Schools 50000 91300
Northwestern University Private 49800 91200
Boston University Private 48800 91100
Baylor University Private 47700 90800
Purdue University Engineering 51000 90700
Purdue University State Schools 51000 90700
Pepperdine University Private 50000 90600
Milwaukee School of Engineering Engineering 54600 90500
Washington University In St. Louis Private 51500 90400
Kenyon College Liberal Arts 39800 90300
Colorado College (CC) Liberal Arts 42400 90200
Michigan Technological University Engineering 53400 90100
Michigan Technological University State Schools 53400 90100
Stony Brook University State Schools 50900 90100
Drake University Private 42700 90100
University of Massachusetts (UMass) – Lowell State Schools 47900 90000
Trinity College Liberal Arts 49100 89900
Lawrence Technological University Engineering 47600 89900
University of Denver Private 43400 89700
Saint Mary’s College of California Liberal Arts 49100 89600
Mount Holyoke College Liberal Arts 42100 89600
California State University (CSU), Chico State Schools 47700 89300
The College of William and Mary State Schools 46900 89300
University of Redlands Liberal Arts 47700 89200
Long Island University Private 43300 89100
University of Maryland (UMD) State Schools 51600 89000
University of Connecticut (UConn) State Schools 49600 89000
University of New Haven Private 44200 89000
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) Liberal Arts 38400 89000
State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany State Schools 45100 88900
University of Richmond Liberal Arts 48900 88700
Seton Hall University Private 48100 88700
Loma Linda University Private 71400 88500
University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) State Schools 44200 88500
University of Florida (UF) Party Schools 47300 88400
University of Florida (UF) State Schools 47300 88400
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison State Schools 48800 88300
Creighton University Private 43300 88300
Wellesley College Liberal Arts 43100 88300
Ithaca College Private 42100 88300
Hofstra University Private 49000 88200
Bradley University Private 47400 88200
Brigham Young University (BYU) Private 50600 88000
Auburn University State Schools 46600 87900
Gettysburg College Liberal Arts 42400 87800
Binghamton University State Schools 51700 87700
Northeastern University Private 51300 87700
University of Dayton Private 45600 87700
Rider University Private 43700 87700
Oregon State University (OSU) State Schools 46100 87600
Adelphi University Private 49200 87400
Siena College Liberal Arts 44200 87400
Seattle University Private 45900 87300
Vassar College Liberal Arts 45000 87200
University of Arizona State Schools 47300 87100
University of Hartford Private 43000 87000
Marquette University Private 47700 86700
Washington State University (WSU) State Schools 45600 86600
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) State Schools 47500 86500
University of Rhode Island (URI) State Schools 44200 86500
Syracuse University Private 46200 86200
University of Colorado – Denver State Schools 44500 86200
University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) State Schools 44200 86200
Monmouth University Private 43400 86200
Saint Mary’s College of Maryland Liberal Arts 46500 86100
George Mason University State Schools 49300 85700
University of Utah State Schools 45000 85700
University of California, Riverside (UCR) State Schools 44600 85700
University of Tulsa Private 43200 85600
University of Vermont (UVM) State Schools 43600 85400
Merrimack College Liberal Arts 49100 85300
Iowa State University State Schools 46500 85300
Duquesne University Private 42500 85300
Widener University Private 53600 85100
Baruch College State Schools 49700 85100
City University of New York (CUNY) State Schools 48900 85100
Rhodes College Liberal Arts 46900 85100
Stonehill College Liberal Arts 44400 85100
University of Washington (UW) State Schools 48600 85000
University of Puget Sound Liberal Arts 44400 84900
American University, Washington D.C. Liberal Arts 45400 84700
Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Party Schools 49700 84600
Pennsylvania State University (PSU) State Schools 49700 84600
University of Delaware State Schools 47100 84600
University of Minnesota State Schools 46500 84500
Macalester College Liberal Arts 43900 84400
McNeese State University State Schools 39700 84400
Gustavus Adolphus College Liberal Arts 45500 84300
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Party Schools 40800 84300
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa State Schools 40800 84300
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCH) State Schools 43300 84200
Louisiana State University (LSU) State Schools 47200 84100
Denison University Liberal Arts 40700 84000
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) State Schools 44900 83900
Clemson University State Schools 48300 83800
University of San Diego (USD) Private 45300 83800
University of Bridgeport (UB) Private 44100 83400
Wheaton College Liberal Arts 41800 83400
San Francisco State University (SFSU) State Schools 47400 83300
North Carolina State University (NCSU) State Schools 48000 83200
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) State Schools 45300 83100
Butler University Liberal Arts 42900 83100
Allegheny College Liberal Arts 38800 83000
California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) State Schools 48500 82900
Quinnipiac University Private 44300 82900
Providence College Private 48800 82800
San Diego State University (SDSU) State Schools 46700 82800
Arizona State University (ASU) Party Schools 46100 82800
Arizona State University (ASU) State Schools 46100 82800
California State University (CSU), Fresno (Fresno State) State Schools 45600 82800
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) State Schools 46200 82700
St. Olaf College Liberal Arts 45900 82700
Indiana University (IU), Bloomington Party Schools 46000 82600
Indiana University (IU), Bloomington State Schools 46000 82600
Louisiana Tech University Engineering 45300 82600
Randolph-Macon College Liberal Arts 42100 82600
Randolph-Macon College Party Schools 42100 82600
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Engineering 55100 82500
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Engineering 51000 82500
Michigan State University (MSU) State Schools 46600 82500
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Engineering 46800 82400
Ohio State University (OSU) State Schools 44100 82200
Texas Tech University Engineering 45700 82100
Texas Tech University State Schools 45700 82100
Utah State University State Schools 42900 82000
University of Missouri – Columbia State Schools 40800 82000
Augsburg College Liberal Arts 46500 81800
Colorado State University (CSU) State Schools 44100 81800
Fashion Institute of Technology Arts & Design 45200 81700
Chapman University Liberal Arts 42000 81600
University of Georgia (UGA) Party Schools 43900 81500
University of Georgia (UGA) State Schools 43900 81500
Temple University State Schools 42200 81400
Howard University Private 50300 81300
University of Massachusetts (UMass) – Amherst State Schools 46400 81300
University of Oklahoma State Schools 44000 81300
Ursinus College Liberal Arts 39700 81300
Art Center College of Design Arts & Design 50700 81100
Lamar University State Schools 44800 81100
University of Arkansas State Schools 43300 81100
University at Buffalo (UB) State Schools 45100 81000
University of Miami (UM) Private 46500 80900
University of Nebraska State Schools 45800 80900
University of Iowa (UI) Party Schools 43900 80800
University of Iowa (UI) State Schools 43900 80800
University of Kansas State Schools 42700 80800
University of Houston (UH) State Schools 46900 80700
Colby College Liberal Arts 44500 80600
Mississippi State University (MSU) State Schools 44200 80600
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) State Schools 42300 80600
DePaul University Private 40800 80600
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) State Schools 48900 80500
State University of New York (SUNY) at Farmingdale State Schools 46100 80500
Northern Illinois University (NIU) State Schools 43700 80300
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) State Schools 46200 80200
University of Texas at Dallas State Schools 45000 80100
University of Pittsburgh State Schools 45400 79900
Tennessee Technological University (TTU) Engineering 44500 79900
Tennessee Technological University (TTU) State Schools 44500 79900
Reed College Liberal Arts 39800 79900
Grove City College Liberal Arts 47300 79800
University of Idaho State Schools 46500 79800
Central Connecticut State University State Schools 42300 79600
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) State Schools 45700 79500
State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta State Schools 36800 79500
University of Cincinnati (UC) State Schools 45100 79400
Alfred University Private 44400 79400
Western Connecticut State University State Schools 43700 79400
Kansas State University (KSU) State Schools 42900 79300
University of Illinois at Chicago State Schools 46500 79100
Oklahoma State University State Schools 43000 79000
North Dakota State University (NDSU) State Schools 46200 78800
Penn State – Harrisburg State Schools 45200 78700
University of Massachusetts (UMass) – Dartmouth State Schools 44400 78500
University of New Mexico (UNM) State Schools 42500 78500
University of Maryland University College (UMUC) State Schools 50300 78400
Kean College Liberal Arts 42400 78400
University of Kentucky (UK) State Schools 41400 78400
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) State Schools 44800 78200
Beloit College Liberal Arts 37700 78200
Assumption College Liberal Arts 45100 78100
College of St Benedict Liberal Arts 41400 78100
University of Mississippi Party Schools 41800 78000
University of Mississippi State Schools 41800 78000
Central Michigan University State Schools 41600 78000
University of Toledo State Schools 43300 77900
Hawaii Pacific University Liberal Arts 41700 77900
Seattle Pacific University (SPU) Private 40000 77900
Texas Christian University (TCU) Private 46400 77800
Whitman College Liberal Arts 41900 77800
Fairleigh Dickinson University Private 47100 77700
Smith College Liberal Arts 44700 77700
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) State Schools 44900 77600
Montclair State University State Schools 44600 77600
Saint Louis University (SLU) Private 45200 77500
University of Wyoming (UW) State Schools 43200 77400
New Mexico State University State Schools 45700 77300
Oberlin College Liberal Arts 42400 77300
James Madison University (JMU) State Schools 47300 77100
Mount St. Mary’s College Liberal Arts 47000 77100
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Arts & Design 44900 77000
University of Evansville Liberal Arts 43500 77000
Humboldt State University State Schools 43300 77000
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Whitewater State Schools 41800 77000
Liberty University Liberal Arts 39700 76900
Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins State Schools 45200 76700
Old Dominion University State Schools 42700 76700
State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo State Schools 41100 76600
Skidmore College Liberal Arts 41900 76500
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Platteville State Schools 45200 76400
West Virginia University (WVU) Party Schools 44000 76400
West Virginia University (WVU) State Schools 44000 76400
Loyola University of Chicago Liberal Arts 43500 76400
Elizabethtown College Private 43800 76300
West Chester University State Schools 42400 76200
University of Oregon State Schools 42100 76200
Florida State University (FSU) Party Schools 41800 76200
Florida State University (FSU) State Schools 41800 76200
Richard Stockton College State Schools 41700 76200
Westminster College – Salt Lake City, UT Liberal Arts 43000 76100
Weber State University State Schools 44600 76000
DePauw University Liberal Arts 41900 75900
Elon University Private 41900 75900
University Of Maine, Orono State Schools 41200 75900
Lewis University Private 41000 75900
State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego State Schools 40900 75900
Hampton University Private 45300 75800
Montana State University – Bozeman State Schools 45200 75800
Western Michigan University (WMU) State Schools 42100 75700
Sonoma State University State Schools 44200 75600
Central Washington University State Schools 42300 75600
National University Private 50000 75500
Western Washington University State Schools 43300 75500
Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) Liberal Arts 44300 75400
Wayne State University State Schools 44200 75400
Minnesota State University – Mankato State Schools 42200 75400
Dowling College Private 41000 75400
University of North Dakota State Schools 44300 75200
North Central College Liberal Arts 41300 75200
Linfield College Liberal Arts 45700 75100
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) State Schools 44300 75100
Abilene Christian University Liberal Arts 42800 75100
Hamilton College Liberal Arts 49600 75000
University of Massachusetts (UMass) – Boston State Schools 46200 75000
Philadelphia University Private 44500 75000
University of Tennessee Party Schools 43800 75000
University of Tennessee State Schools 43800 75000
Brooklyn College Liberal Arts 42300 75000
Elmhurst College Private 40900 75000
University of Hawaii State Schools 41500 74900
California State University (CSU), Stanislaus State Schools 40800 74900
University of Nebraska at Omaha State Schools 41700 74800
Illinois State University State Schools 42500 74700
Oakland University State Schools 41600 74700
Salve Regina University Liberal Arts 47200 74500
Gannon University Private 42100 74300
Roger Williams University Private 41400 74300
Queens College State Schools 45600 74200
Marist College Private 45200 74200
Juniata College Liberal Arts 46600 74100
Willamette University Liberal Arts 39800 74000
University of New Hampshire (UNH) Party Schools 45100 73900
University of New Hampshire (UNH) State Schools 45100 73900
Southwestern University Liberal Arts 44200 73900
Lipscomb University Liberal Arts 40200 73900
State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh State Schools 37400 73900
Southern Illinois University (SIU) – Carbondale State Schools 44500 73800
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) State Schools 44300 73700
LeTourneau University Engineering 48500 73600
Gonzaga University Private 48400 73600
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) State Schools 44300 73600
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Milwaukee State Schools 42100 73600
Furman University Liberal Arts 39400 73600
Regis University Private 49600 73500
University of Alaska, Anchorage State Schools 48100 73500
DeSales University Liberal Arts 40300 73500
Florida International University (FIU) State Schools 43200 73400
Grinnell College Liberal Arts 43200 73400
South Dakota State University (SDSU) State Schools 40700 73400
Towson University State Schools 41200 73300
College of Staten Island State Schools 48500 73200
Georgia State University State Schools 42100 73200
Southwest Texas State University State Schools 40600 73200
DeVry University Engineering 45500 73100
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) State Schools 42500 73100
Moravian College Liberal Arts 41700 73100
University of Wisconsin (UW) – La Crosse State Schools 41200 73100
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) State Schools 42000 73000
University of Akron State Schools 42000 72900
Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) Engineering 41600 72900
Midwestern State University (MSU) Liberal Arts 43800 72800
St. Cloud State University State Schools 42700 72800
Cleveland State University State Schools 42500 72700
Augustana College Liberal Arts 42000 72700
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) State Schools 40800 72700
William Paterson University State Schools 42400 72600
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University (FAMU) State Schools 40300 72600
University of North Texas (UNT) State Schools 41700 72500
Pacific Lutheran University Liberal Arts 43800 72400
Ohio University Party Schools 43300 72400
Ohio University State Schools 43300 72400
Angelo State University State Schools 39400 72400
University of Central Florida (UCF) State Schools 43200 72300
Eastern Illinois University State Schools 38400 72200
State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam State Schools 37600 72200
Idaho State University (ISU) State Schools 46500 72100
College of Charleston State Schools 36200 72100
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Stout State Schools 42700 72000
Northern Arizona University (NAU) State Schools 42400 72000
California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) State Schools 42700 71900
Bowling Green State University State Schools 40600 71900
Ferris State University State Schools 41800 71800
Concordia University Private 41700 71800
University of South Carolina State Schools 40200 71800
Aurora University Liberal Arts 40600 71700
Utah Valley State College State Schools 44000 71500
University of Louisiana (UL) at Lafayette State Schools 42200 71500
Marymount University Private 41700 71500
University of New Orleans (UNO) State Schools 41200 71300
Youngstown State University (YSU) State Schools 40100 71200
Georgia Southern University State Schools 39000 71100
Wright State University State Schools 42300 71000
Thomas Aquinas College Liberal Arts 37900 71000
Missouri State University (MSU) State Schools 35900 71000
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) State Schools 39100 70900
Keene State College Liberal Arts 38700 70700
Lesley College Private 46400 70500
Clarke College Liberal Arts 41400 70500
Sam Houston State University State Schools 41300 70500
Calvin College Liberal Arts 38900 70500
Goucher College Liberal Arts 41600 70400
Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD) Liberal Arts 41400 70400
Taylor University Liberal Arts 39400 70400
Indiana State University State Schools 40200 70300
Eckerd College Liberal Arts 41800 70200
Western Illinois University State Schools 37000 70200
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) State Schools 42300 70100
University of South Florida (USF) State Schools 41500 70000
Susquehanna University Liberal Arts 46600 69900
Jacksonville University Private 45200 69900
Portland State University (PSU) State Schools 41800 69900
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Parkside State Schools 40500 69900
Luther College Liberal Arts 38000 69900
Benedictine University Liberal Arts 42700 69800
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) State Schools 41300 69800
University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) State Schools 42200 69700
Eastern Washington University State Schools 38800 69700
University of Northern Colorado State Schools 43100 69600
Ramapo College of New Jersey State Schools 42900 69600
University of Memphis (U of M) State Schools 41600 69600
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) State Schools 39400 69600
Point Park College Liberal Arts 37300 69600
Mercy College Private 43600 69500
Eastern Michigan University State Schools 40400 69500
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Stevens Point State Schools 38500 69500
University of Montana State Schools 36900 69500
University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) State Schools 41400 69400
Hope College Liberal Arts 38400 69400
Baldwin-Wallace College Liberal Arts 40900 69300
Mercer University Private 44900 69000
University of the District of Columbia State Schools 44400 69000
Kennesaw State University State Schools 41400 69000
Loyola University – New Orleans Party Schools 38400 69000
Bloomfield College Liberal Arts 41200 68900
Ashland University Private 35400 68900
Salem State College State Schools 41600 68700
St. Joseph’s College Private 45200 68600
Roosevelt University Private 42600 68600
Maryville University Liberal Arts 40500 68600
University of West Florida (UWF) State Schools 36100 68600
California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) State Schools 44900 68500
University of Louisville State Schools 40800 68300
Lycoming College Liberal Arts 36600 68300
Sacred Heart University Private 47700 68200
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) State Schools 40500 68200
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) State Schools 43600 68100
Washburn University State Schools 41900 68100
Viterbo University Liberal Arts 38800 68100
York College Liberal Arts 42500 67900
Biola University Private 38100 67900
Texas A&M University – Commerce State Schools 37700 67900
Wichita State University State Schools 43100 67800
Northeastern Illinois University State Schools 41200 67600
Capital University Liberal Arts 36000 67600
Fort Lewis College Liberal Arts 43100 67400
Emerson College Private 38400 67300
Southeast Missouri State University State Schools 37100 67300
Mount Union College Liberal Arts 35500 67300
Texas Woman’s University State Schools 50500 67200
National Louis University Private 45400 67200
Colorado Technical University Engineering 42000 67200
Missouri Western State College Liberal Arts 37900 67200
Fitchburg State College State Schools 43600 67000
Northwood University Private 39300 67000
Alvernia College Private 39500 66800
Grand Valley State University Liberal Arts 38200 66800
Truman State University Liberal Arts 40100 66700
University of South Alabama State Schools 44100 66600
Franklin Pierce College Liberal Arts 42100 66500
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Oshkosh State Schools 39900 66500
Evergreen State College Liberal Arts 40600 66400
Appalachian State University State Schools 37200 66400
Wilmington College Liberal Arts 39700 66200
East Stroudsburg University (ESU) State Schools 37800 66100
Marshall University State Schools 35800 66100
Rowan University State Schools 42100 66000
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Eau Claire State Schools 41700 66000
Park University Private 43900 65900
Boise State University (BSU) State Schools 39800 65900
Western Carolina University State Schools 35800 65800
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Private 40900 65500
Ball State University (BSU) State Schools 37800 65500
Metropolitan State University State Schools 43800 65400
University of Northern Iowa State Schools 39600 65400
Mercyhurst College Liberal Arts 39300 65400
Niagara University Private 37500 65400
Dallas Baptist University Private 41000 65300
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) Liberal Arts 34200 65300
Northwest Missouri State University State Schools 41300 64700
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) State Schools 39500 64700
Augusta State University State Schools 37700 64500
West Texas A & M University State Schools 37500 64500
Arkansas State University (ASU) State Schools 37100 64500
East Carolina University (ECU) State Schools 39500 64400
Eastern Kentucky University State Schools 39300 64400
Bob Jones University Private 38600 64400
Madonna University Private 39700 64300
Kent State University State Schools 39100 64300
Azusa Pacific University Private 39100 64200
St. Ambrose University Liberal Arts 35200 64100
Columbia College Private 36000 64000
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) State Schools 40100 63900
Norfolk State University State Schools 38100 63800
Winona State University State Schools 41800 63600
University of Wisconsin (UW) – River Falls State Schools 38300 63500
Clarion University of Pennsylvania State Schools 37000 63500
Carroll College Liberal Arts 42100 63400
Fort Hays State University State Schools 38700 63400
Bridgewater State College Liberal Arts 40400 63300
Bellevue University – Bellevue, NE Private 39600 63300
California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) State Schools 37100 63300
University of Southern Mississippi (USM) State Schools 40600 63200
University of Nebraska – Kearney State Schools 38800 63200
Jacksonville State University State Schools 37700 63200
Radford University State Schools 41000 63100
Columbus State University State Schools 36900 63000
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) State Schools 35500 63000
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Arts & Design 40400 62800
Baker College Private 36700 62800
Southeastern Louisiana University State Schools 37300 62700
University of Texas at Tyler State Schools 41700 62600
University Of Central Arkansas State Schools 37000 62600
Valdosta State University (VSU) State Schools 35400 62600
North Carolina A&T State University State Schools 48100 62500
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania State Schools 38300 62400
Franklin University Private 42200 62300
Empire State College Liberal Arts 40100 62300
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) State Schools 40400 62200
Rollins College Liberal Arts 38200 62200
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) State Schools 35900 62100
Winston-Salem State University State Schools 43000 62000
Cameron University State Schools 34000 62000
Pennsylvania College Of Technology Engineering 44600 61900
Rhode Island College State Schools 39700 61800
Wayland Baptist University Private 37200 61800
Campbell University Liberal Arts 37700 61700
Lindenwood University Liberal Arts 36300 61700
Morgan State University State Schools 41800 61500
Saint Leo University Private 40700 61400
Tarleton State University (TSU) State Schools 40100 61300
Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) State Schools 35800 61300
Austin Peay State University State Schools 37500 61100
Murray State University State Schools 37500 61100
Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Private 38200 60900
University of North Florida (UNF) State Schools 40400 60700
Marian College Private 41800 60600
Northwestern State University State Schools 39500 60600
Winthrop University Liberal Arts 36600 60500
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Liberal Arts 40900 60300
Bethel College Private 41300 60200
Southern Nazarene University Liberal Arts 39900 60100
University of Wisconsin (UW) – Green Bay State Schools 37400 60100
North Carolina Central University Liberal Arts 35600 59900
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) State Schools 37200 59600
Barton College Liberal Arts 32300 59600
Malone College Liberal Arts 39500 59200
Slippery Rock University State Schools 38000 59200
Western Kentucky University State Schools 37700 59200
University of Indianapolis Liberal Arts 38000 58800
Trinity Christian College Liberal Arts 36100 58800
Chicago State University (CSU) State Schools 40200 58700
Drury University Liberal Arts 39900 58700
Morehead State University State Schools 36300 58700
Lenoir-Rhyne College Liberal Arts 38600 58100
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) State Schools 37400 58100
Montana State University – Billings State Schools 35500 58100
State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia State Schools 37500 57900
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) State Schools 36700 57700
University of Southern Maine (USM) State Schools 43600 57300
Gardner-Webb University Liberal Arts 32700 57200
University of Arkansas – Little Rock (UALR) State Schools 35800 57100
College of Mount St. Joseph Liberal Arts 35600 56700
Lakeland College Private 40400 55900
Pittsburg State University State Schools 39700 55700
Friends University Liberal Arts 36200 55400
College of the Ozarks Liberal Arts 31900 54900
Husson College Private 42000 54800
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) Liberal Arts 34200 54500
University Of North Alabama (UNA) State Schools 38100 54300
Indiana Institute Of Technology Engineering 41800 54000
Berea College Liberal Arts 33600 53100
Northeastern State University State Schools 37400 51500
Meredith College Liberal Arts 33900 50800
Shaw University Liberal Arts 39000 50400
Davenport University Private 38900 47500
Black Hills State University State Schools 34300 42200

Topics: Jobs, Money | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “Which Colleges Produce the Best Paid Graduates”

  1. John Noble Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:18 am

    Yes, and where do you get your data? It certainly doesn’t come from the colleges. I question the validity of your list.
    Hi, these data are actually collected by a research company named Payscale. They surveyed nearly 1.2 million users of their site over the last year. People self-reported their salaries and educational credentials along with school they graduated from.

  2. Marcia Goodrich Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 5:45 am

    This is intriguing. I’d like to know how the numbers were collected and, if possible, how the average salaries were determined.

    In the interest of full disclosure, I am a writer at Michigan Tech, which is among the schools’ included in the study.

    That’s a really good question Marcia, especially the one concerning about average salaries. It turns out the salary is a combination of base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime, and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable. In the survey, the researchers excluded stock compensation, retirement cash value benefits and non cash value health care benefits. The numbers in the data were collected from over a million PayScale site users of the last year time period who self reported their information. I doubt it was a perfect scientific sample at all but it is still a stunning and somewhat educational report.

  3. Dana Thomas Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    I’d like to know which Concordia University you are referring to… there are several in the US.
    Dana, sorry for the confusion. I know there are tons of Concordia University around the states. The one we have listed in our rankings is the one in the state of Wisconsin – Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW).

  4. Byron Cooper Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Just for info– what is the definition of midcareer?
    Hello there, mid career is
    defined as a career after 10 years or greater of graduation. And starting career in this data set means an employee who has less than 5 years of experience in his or her career field. Not to mention, in either cases all the survey respondents were full time employees and possessed a highest degree of bachelor’s.

  5. Anonymous Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 4:15 pm

    The salaries only include individuals who earned a bachelor’s degree and nothing higher. For the research universities, that means it excludes their entire graduate population, and for liberal arts colleges, it excludes everyone who goes on to get a master’s, JD, MD, or doctorate. In other words, for most colleges, it’s mostly meaningless. It would appear even more meaningless if you controlled for the entering SAT scores or the parental incomes of the graduates in question.

    Thank you. I forgot to add that in the story among few others. The survey respondents possessed the highest academic degree of bachelor’s and thus doesn’t include data include graduates who have doctors, lawyers, mba and other high paying jobs that require higher advanced degrees.

  6. Mary Ann Baclawski Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    While the correlation is obviously not over-riding, I also wonder how much the geographic location and whether the students tend to get jobs close by affects the salaries.

    That would be very interesting to learn how much the geographic location and the distance play roles in affecting the salaries. Unfortunately, I don’t think they factored in these variables.

  7. Jason Richter Says:
    July 30th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    I would like to know what does salary mean in this particular study because I know salary could also sometimes include tips, bonuses, over times, etc while other times it only means the payment made solely for the work employees perform. Also may i suggest a new title for this topic? Which UNDERGRADUATE education college graduates make the highest earnings? I hope you see my point.

  8. jt Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 11:00 am

    This is interesting, but a key question has to be what is the financial situation of the students going into each school. That is, family wealth surely also has an impact on the future opportunities/earnings of students, and that is surely very different for an “average” student at say, Dartmouth compared to Arkansas State.

  9. alumni Says:
    August 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am

    I disagree with jt who said we have to take into consideration the financial situation of the students going into each school such as family wealth. Unless these students are starting their own or family owned business, this factor doesn’t affect in any way. Actually, I think students who are poor have more potential to earn bigger money since they are more motivated. That’s my 2 cents though.

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