After College
People pay a lot of money to go to college—but what college's graduates are making the most money after they leave the university? That's the question this report from PayScale is answering, with its ranking of universities with the highest-paid graduates.
Check out the top 100 and see if your alma mater made the list—you might be surprised to know that it isn't an Ivy League school sitting at number one (honestly, we're pretty sure the whole top 10 will surprise most people).
100: University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mid-Career Pay: $144,200
Early Career Pay: $80,200
% High Meaning (alumni who say their work makes the world a better place): 43%
% STEM Degrees: 37%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
99: New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $144,400
Early Career Pay: $82,300
% High Meaning: 54%
% STEM Degrees: 92%
School Type: Engineering, State School
Atomic Energy505, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
98: Loyola University Maryland
Mid-Career Pay: $144,600
Early Career Pay: $75,100
% High Meaning: 46%
% STEM Degrees: 10%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
97: Villanova University
Mid-Career Pay: $144,600
Early Career Pay: $84,700
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 23%
School Type: Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans
96: Northwestern University
Mid-Career Pay: $144,700
Early Career Pay: $81,300
% High Meaning: 42%
% STEM Degrees: 20%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Joshsukoff, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
95: Albany College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Mid-Career Pay: $145,000
Early Career Pay: $81,200
% High Meaning: 71%
% STEM Degrees: 7%
School Type: Private School
Albany Times Union, Getty Images
94: Middlebury College
Mid-Career Pay: $145,400
Early Career Pay: $77,800
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 23%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
92 (Tie): Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $145,600
Early Career Pay: $83,900
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 78%
School Type: Engineering, Research University, State School
Adavidb, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
92 (Tie): University Of Rochester
Mid-Career Pay: $145,600
Early Career Pay: $79,800
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 29%
School Type: Private School, Research University
91: Carleton College
Mid-Career Pay: $146,100
Early Career Pay: $75,200
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 48%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Dogs1337, CC0 1.0, Wikimedia Commons
90: Johns Hopkins University
Mid-Career Pay: $146,200
Early Career Pay: $86,700
% High Meaning: 56%
% STEM Degrees: 35%
School Type: Private School, Research University
Liz Albro Photography, Shutterstock
89: Illinois Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $146,300
Early Career Pay: $82,200
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 58%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
88: Haverford College
Mid-Career Pay: $146,400
Early Career Pay: $76,600
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 41%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Jackbauerinvc (talk), CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
87: MCPHS University
Mid-Career Pay: $146,500
Early Career Pay: $77,700
% High Meaning: 74%
% STEM Degrees: 1%
School Type: Private School
86: Washington University In St Louis
Mid-Career Pay: $146,800
Early Career Pay: $83,200
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 32%
School Type: Private School, Research University
85: Trinity College
Mid-Career Pay: $146,900
Early Career Pay: $77,000
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 22%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
84: Boston College
Mid-Career Pay: $147,000
Early Career Pay: $82,000
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 17%
School Type: Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans
82 (Tie): Tufts University
Mid-Career Pay: $147,200
Early Career Pay: $83,700
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 28%
School Type: Private School, Research University
Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
82 (Tie): Franklin And Marshall College
Mid-Career Pay: $147,200
Early Career Pay: $73,000
% High Meaning: 41%
% STEM Degrees: 25%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
81: United States Coast Guard Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $147,400
Early Career Pay: $93,400
% High Meaning: n/a
% STEM Degrees: 67%
School Type: Engineering, State School
USCG Press, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
80: Case Western Reserve University
Mid-Career Pay: $147,600
Early Career Pay: $84,500
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 38%
School Type: Private School, Research University
Rdikeman, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
79: Davidson College
Mid-Career Pay: $147,800
Early Career Pay: $73,000
% High Meaning: 54%
% STEM Degrees: 29%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
78: University Of California-Davis
Mid-Career Pay: $147,900
Early Career Pay: $79,000
% High Meaning: 53%
% STEM Degrees: 36%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
76 (Tie): Kettering University
Mid-Career Pay: $148,100
Early Career Pay: $88,800
% High Meaning: 39%
% STEM Degrees: 74%
School Type: Engineering, Private School
Ilikebenwallace, Wikimedia Commons
76 (Tie): Saint Mary's College Of California
Mid-Career Pay: $148,100
Early Career Pay: $74,200
% High Meaning: 56%
% STEM Degrees: 7%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
Cristiano Tomás, Wikimedia Commons
75: Bentley University
Mid-Career Pay: $149,100
Early Career Pay: $86,100
% High Meaning: 40%
% STEM Degrees: 9%
School Type: Business, Private School
74: University Of California-Los Angeles
Mid-Career Pay: $149,200
Early Career Pay: $78,600
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 34%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Alton, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
73: The King's University
Mid-Career Pay: $149,400
Early Career Pay: $73,500
% High Meaning: 46%
% STEM Degrees: 0%
School Type: Private School, Religious
72: Virginia Military Institute
Mid-Career Pay: $149,500
Early Career Pay: $80,200
% High Meaning: 63%
% STEM Degrees: 49%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, For Sports Fans, State School
71: Wake Forest University
Mid-Career Pay: $149,600
Early Career Pay: $76,400
% High Meaning: 39%
% STEM Degrees: 16%
School Type: Party School, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
UNC Libraries Commons, Wikimedia Commons
70: Wabash College
Mid-Career Pay: $149,700
Early Career Pay: $77,400
% High Meaning: 31%
% STEM Degrees: 27%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Stephen B. Goodwin, Shutterstock
69: Gettysburg College
Mid-Career Pay: $149,900
Early Career Pay: $74,900
% High Meaning: 47%
% STEM Degrees: 27%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Smb51095, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
68: Boston University
Mid-Career Pay: $150,100
Early Career Pay: $79,100
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 27%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
67: Loyola Marymount University
Mid-Career Pay: $150,200
Early Career Pay: $74,700
% High Meaning: 40%
% STEM Degrees: 11%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
66: Maine Maritime Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $150,500
Early Career Pay: $82,400
% High Meaning: 57%
% STEM Degrees: 44%
School Type: State School
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
65: Rice University
Mid-Career Pay: $150,600
Early Career Pay: $90,600
% High Meaning: 56%
% STEM Degrees: 40%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Tendenci Software, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
62 (Tie): Fairfield University
Mid-Career Pay: $150,900
Early Career Pay: $80,000
% High Meaning: 37%
% STEM Degrees: 13%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
Stagophile, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
62 (Tie): Clarkson University
Mid-Career Pay: $150,900
Early Career Pay: $81,000
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 55%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
Anniegh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
62 (Tie): New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $150,900
Early Career Pay: $81,400
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 74%
School Type: Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Jim.henderson, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
61: University Of Chicago
Mid-Career Pay: $151,000
Early Career Pay: $84,700
% High Meaning: 34%
% STEM Degrees: 30%
School Type: Private School, Research University
Rick Seidel, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
60: New York University
Mid-Career Pay: $151,100
Early Career Pay: $80,500
% High Meaning: 42%
% STEM Degrees: 24%
School Type: Private School, Research University
59: Vanderbilt University
Mid-Career Pay: $151,500
Early Career Pay: $84,700
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 24%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Barbara Kalbfleisch, Shutterstock
58: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Mid-Career Pay: $152,100
Early Career Pay: $86,900
% High Meaning: 59%
% STEM Degrees: 40%
School Type: Private School
Connor McShane, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
57: University Of California-Irvine
Mid-Career Pay: $152,200
Early Career Pay: $76,900
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 38%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
55 (Tie): Bates College
Mid-Career Pay: $152,300
Early Career Pay: $73,300
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 26%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Rockytalinto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
55 (Tie): University Of California-Santa Barbara
Mid-Career Pay: $152,300
Early Career Pay: $75,300
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 33%
School Type: Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
54: Yeshiva University
Mid-Career Pay: $152,400
Early Career Pay: $80,200
% High Meaning: 30%
% STEM Degrees: 8%
School Type: Private School, Research University
53: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Mid-Career Pay: $153,100
Early Career Pay: $83,200
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 35%
School Type: For Sports Fans, State School
Claudine Van Massenhove, Shutterstock
52: George Washington University
Mid-Career Pay: $153,400
Early Career Pay: $78,000
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 16%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
51: Wesleyan University
Mid-Career Pay: $153,800
Early Career Pay: $80,800
% High Meaning: 41%
% STEM Degrees: 19%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Smartalic34, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
49 (Tie): University Of Virginia-Main Campus
Mid-Career Pay: $153,900
Early Career Pay: $82,300
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 21%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Aaron Josephson, Wikimedia Commons
49 (Tie): Barnard College
Mid-Career Pay: $153,900
Early Career Pay: $77,100
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 22%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
48: University Of Southern California
Mid-Career Pay: $154,800
Early Career Pay: $83,800
% High Meaning: 47%
% STEM Degrees: 21%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
47: Bowdoin College
Mid-Career Pay: $155,100
Early Career Pay: $78,400
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 38%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
45 (Tie): Samuel Merritt University
Mid-Career Pay: $155,700
Early Career Pay: $114,800
% High Meaning: n/a
% STEM Degrees: 0%
School Type: Private School
Mx. Granger, Wikimedia Commons
45 (Tie): Union College (New York)
Mid-Career Pay: $155,700
Early Career Pay: $81,700
% High Meaning: 41%
% STEM Degrees: 49%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School
cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
44: University Of California-San Diego
Mid-Career Pay: $156,000
Early Career Pay: $82,100
% High Meaning: 54%
% STEM Degrees: 51%
School Type: Engineering, Research University, State School
cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
43: Manhattan College
Mid-Career Pay: $156,100
Early Career Pay: $79,800
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 39%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
Trollness, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
42: Cornell University
Mid-Career Pay: $158,600
Early Career Pay: $89,300
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 44%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
sach1tb, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
41: Brandeis University
Mid-Career Pay: $158,700
Early Career Pay: $75,200
% High Meaning: 42%
% STEM Degrees: 36%
School Type: Private School, Research University
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
40: Bucknell University
Mid-Career Pay: $159,100
Early Career Pay: $85,200
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 36%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School, For Sports Fans
39: Columbia University In The City Of New York
Mid-Career Pay: $159,700
Early Career Pay: $92,500
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 30%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
38: Brown University
Mid-Career Pay: $160,300
Early Career Pay: $88,000
% High Meaning: 42%
% STEM Degrees: 43%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
37: The Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
Mid-Career Pay: $160,500
Early Career Pay: $88,100
% High Meaning: 39%
% STEM Degrees: 60%
School Type: Engineering, Private School
Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
36: California State University Maritime Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $161,900
Early Career Pay: $85,800
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 18%
School Type: State School
35: Lafayette College
Mid-Career Pay: $162,000
Early Career Pay: $86,200
% High Meaning: 38%
% STEM Degrees: 47%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
Wegrzynl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
34: Swarthmore College
Mid-Career Pay: $162,500
Early Career Pay: $82,600
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 38%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
Kungming2, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
33: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Mid-Career Pay: $163,500
Early Career Pay: $89,700
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 78%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
32: Duke University
Mid-Career Pay: $164,000
Early Career Pay: $90,500
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 28%
School Type: Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans
31: Washington And Lee University
Mid-Career Pay: $164,400
Early Career Pay: $80,300
% High Meaning: 40%
% STEM Degrees: 19%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
30: University Of Notre Dame
Mid-Career Pay: $165,500
Early Career Pay: $86,900
% High Meaning: 42%
% STEM Degrees: 32%
School Type: Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans
Matthew Rice, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
29: Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $165,800
Early Career Pay: $93,000
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 98%
School Type: Engineering, Private School
28: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Mid-Career Pay: $166,200
Early Career Pay: $91,900
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 84%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
27: Carnegie Mellon University
Mid-Career Pay: $167,400
Early Career Pay: $100,500
% High Meaning: 41%
% STEM Degrees: 68%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
26: Georgia Institute Of Technology-Main Campus
Mid-Career Pay: $168,000
Early Career Pay: $92,900
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 78%
School Type: Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Jonathan14605, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
25: Webb Institute
Mid-Career Pay: $168,500
Early Career Pay: $97,500
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 100%
School Type: Engineering, Private School
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
24: Georgetown University
Mid-Career Pay: $168,600
Early Career Pay: $84,300
% High Meaning: 47%
% STEM Degrees: 13%
School Type: Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports Fans
Patrickneil, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
23: United States Merchant Marine Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $168,700
Early Career Pay: $103,300
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 55%
School Type: Engineering, State School
21 (Tie): Colorado School Of Mines
Mid-Career Pay: $169,400
Early Career Pay: $89,900
% High Meaning: 56%
% STEM Degrees: 92%
School Type: Engineering, Research University, State School
ChrisEngelsma, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
21 (Tie): SUNY Maritime College
Mid-Career Pay: $169,400
Early Career Pay: $89,100
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 32%
School Type: State School
Jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
20: University Of California-Berkeley
Mid-Career Pay: $170,100
Early Career Pay: $90,900
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 44%
School Type: Research University, For Sports Fans, State School
Bob Collowan, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
19: Yale University
Mid-Career Pay: $171,900
Early Career Pay: $92,100
% High Meaning: 52%
% STEM Degrees: 28%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Nick Allen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
18: United States Air Force Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $172,800
Early Career Pay: $90,900
% High Meaning: 64%
% STEM Degrees: 54%
School Type: Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School
Danny Myers, Wikimedia Commons
17: Stevens Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $172,900
Early Career Pay: $92,800
% High Meaning: 44%
% STEM Degrees: 76%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
16: Williams College
Mid-Career Pay: $173,900
Early Career Pay: $85,800
% High Meaning: 39%
% STEM Degrees: 29%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
15: United States Military Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $174,100
Early Career Pay: $95,400
% High Meaning: 66%
% STEM Degrees: 35%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School
14: Claremont McKenna College
Mid-Career Pay: $175,000
Early Career Pay: $89,800
% High Meaning: 53%
% STEM Degrees: 19%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Private School
SidewalkMD, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
13: California Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $175,400
Early Career Pay: $111,000
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 98%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
12: Lehigh University
Mid-Career Pay: $175,600
Early Career Pay: $89,100
% High Meaning: 40%
% STEM Degrees: 43%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
11: Colgate University
Mid-Career Pay: $176,100
Early Career Pay: $87,400
% High Meaning: 41%
% STEM Degrees: 25%
School Type: Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School, For Sports Fans
Colgate University, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
10: Harvard University
Mid-Career Pay: $177,400
Early Career Pay: $95,600
% High Meaning: 50%
% STEM Degrees: 19%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
Marcio Jose Bastos Silva, Shutterstock
9: University Of Pennsylvania
Mid-Career Pay: $178,300
Early Career Pay: $92,500
% High Meaning: 37%
% STEM Degrees: 27%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
8: Dartmouth College
Mid-Career Pay: $178,700
Early Career Pay: $92,300
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 36%
School Type: Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
7: Santa Clara University
Mid-Career Pay: $179,500
Early Career Pay: $91,000
% High Meaning: 45%
% STEM Degrees: 23%
School Type: Private School, Religious, For Sports Fans
Cristiano Tomás, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
6: Stanford University
Mid-Career Pay: $181,200
Early Career Pay: $102,300
% High Meaning: 57%
% STEM Degrees: 48%
School Type: Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
5: Babson College
Mid-Career Pay: $181,400
Early Career Pay: $90,600
% High Meaning: 48%
% STEM Degrees: 3%
School Type: Business, Private School
4: Harvey Mudd College
Mid-Career Pay: $185,900
Early Career Pay: $115,000
% High Meaning: 61%
% STEM Degrees: 74%
School Type: Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Private School
Bovineone, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3: United States Naval Academy
Mid-Career Pay: $187,800
Early Career Pay: $96,700
% High Meaning: 53%
% STEM Degrees: 54%
School Type: Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School
2: Princeton University
Mid-Career Pay: $194,100
Early Career Pay: $95,600
% High Meaning: 51%
% STEM Degrees: 53%
School Type: Engineering, Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans
cultivar413, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1: Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Mid-Career Pay: $196,900
Early Career Pay: $110,200
% High Meaning: 49%
% STEM Degrees: 66%
School Type: Engineering, Private School, Research University
You might also like:
Ranking The Top 50 Universities In America From Worst To Best—According To Data
Ranking The Highest And Lowest Income States—According To Data
These Jobs Allow You To Travel And Work At The Same Time
Mys 721tx, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sources: 1
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
