College Salary Report

Updated 2024

College Salary Report

Best Research Universities by Salary Potential

Everyone wants to choose a degree that will afford them a successful career. Success means different things to different people, but a decent paycheck doesn’t hurt. Learn more about research universities with the highest-paid graduates.

Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:26School Name:Johns Hopkins UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$92,300Mid-Career Pay:$163,000% High Meaning:61%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:27School Name:Yeshiva UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$84,100Mid-Career Pay:$162,000% High Meaning:42%% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:28School Name:New Jersey Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$83,900Mid-Career Pay:$161,900% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:74%
Rank:29School Name:Clarkson UniversitySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$82,900Mid-Career Pay:$161,500% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:55%
Rank:30School Name:University of Southern CaliforniaSchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$86,800Mid-Career Pay:$160,700% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:31School Name:George Washington UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$80,100Mid-Career Pay:$159,000% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:16%
Rank:32School Name:University of California-Los AngelesSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$83,200Mid-Career Pay:$157,600% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:34%
Rank:33School Name:University of Virginia-Main CampusSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$85,400Mid-Career Pay:$157,300% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:34School Name:Illinois Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$85,700Mid-Career Pay:$157,000% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:58%
Rank:35School Name:New York UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$82,800Mid-Career Pay:$156,700% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:24%
Rank:36School Name:Vanderbilt UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$87,200Mid-Career Pay:$156,600% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:24%
Rank:36School Name:University of California-IrvineSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,600Mid-Career Pay:$156,600% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:38%
Rank:38School Name:University of California-Santa BarbaraSchool Type:Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,500Mid-Career Pay:$156,500% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:33%
Rank:39School Name:Washington University in St LouisSchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$88,000Mid-Career Pay:$156,100% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:32%
Rank:40School Name:Wake Forest UniversitySchool Type:Party School, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$80,900Mid-Career Pay:$155,400% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:16%
Rank:41School Name:Brandeis UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$77,600Mid-Career Pay:$155,200% High Meaning:45%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:42School Name:Northwestern UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$84,900Mid-Career Pay:$155,100% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:20%
Rank:42School Name:University of California-DavisSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,300Mid-Career Pay:$155,100% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:44School Name:Case Western Reserve UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$86,500Mid-Career Pay:$155,000% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:38%
Rank:45School Name:Villanova UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$87,200Mid-Career Pay:$154,500% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:23%
Rank:46School Name:Missouri University of Science and TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$85,200Mid-Career Pay:$154,300% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:78%
Rank:47School Name:University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,700Mid-Career Pay:$153,900% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:37%
Rank:48School Name:Boston UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$82,100Mid-Career Pay:$153,800% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:27%
Rank:49School Name:University of ChicagoSchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$87,900Mid-Career Pay:$153,300% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:30%
Rank:50School Name:University of Michigan-Ann ArborSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$85,300Mid-Career Pay:$152,900% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:41%

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