Which college graduates earn the most money?

Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have the highest median earnings at $143,372 ten years after enrollment. Harvey Mudd College and University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis also rank among the highest.

How are college earnings measured?

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks median earnings of students 10 years after enrollment using federal tax data. This includes all students, not just graduates.

Do Ivy League schools have the highest earning graduates?

Not always. While Ivy League schools rank highly, specialized schools in engineering, technology, and healthcare often have higher median earnings. Schools like MIT, Harvey Mudd, and CalTech frequently outrank traditional Ivy League universities.

Does the college you attend affect your salary?

Yes, but major choice often matters more than school choice. Engineering and computer science majors from mid-tier schools often out-earn humanities majors from elite schools. Location, networking opportunities, and career services also play significant roles.

Highest Earning Graduates 2026 - Top Salaries by College

#1

M

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

$143,372

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $131,633

Debt: $14,768

Acceptance: 4.7%

Grad Rate: 96.2%

🌍 29% International 👩 44% Women

#2

H

Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA · Private

$138,687

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $115,107

Debt: $25,000

Acceptance: 13.1%

Grad Rate: 92.8%

🌍 10% International 👩 49% Women

#3

U

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis

Saint Louis, MO · Private

$137,047

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $116,360

Debt: $17,755

Acceptance: 75.1%

Grad Rate: 68.5%

🌍 3% International 👩 62% Women

#4

A

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Albany, NY · Private

$131,426

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $112,685

Debt: $25,500

Acceptance: 59.1%

Grad Rate: 68.2%

🌍 4% International 👩 64% Women

#5

F

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham, MA · Private

$129,455

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $105,483

Debt: $19,500

Acceptance: 21.7%

Grad Rate: 92.2%

🌍 8% International 👩 48% Women

#6

C

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA · Private

$128,566

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $132,140

Acceptance: 3.1%

Grad Rate: 93.8%

🌍 32% International 👩 39% Women

#7

M

MCPHS University

Boston, MA · Private

$125,557

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $77,171

Debt: $25,000

Acceptance: 85.2%

Grad Rate: 62.7%

🌍 15% International 👩 76% Women

#8

S

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

$124,080

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $102,887

Debt: $12,000

Acceptance: 3.9%

Grad Rate: 92.8%

🌍 25% International 👩 48% Women

#9

B

Babson College

Wellesley, MA · Private

$123,938

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $91,354

Debt: $20,000

Acceptance: 19.7%

Grad Rate: 92.7%

🌍 34% International 👩 43% Women

#10

B

Bentley University

Waltham, MA · Private

$120,959

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $86,679

Debt: $25,023

Acceptance: 48.4%

Grad Rate: 87.5%

🌍 16% International 👩 41% Women

#11

C

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$114,862

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $105,360

Debt: $21,750

Acceptance: 11.4%

Grad Rate: 92.5%

🌍 42% International 👩 44% Women

#12

G

Gnomon

North Hollywood, CA · For-Profit

$114,785

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $90,652

Debt: $28,332

Acceptance: 39.7%

Grad Rate: 66.7%

🌍 25% International 👩 41% Women

#13

U

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$111,371

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $90,555

Debt: $15,715

Acceptance: 5.9%

Grad Rate: 96.8%

🌍 24% International 👩 56% Women

#14

H

Helene Fuld College of Nursing

New York, NY · Private

$111,027

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $101,039

Debt: $15,250

Acceptance: 23.8%

🌍 0% International 👩 87% Women

#15

P

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private

$110,066

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $87,815

Debt: $10,320

Acceptance: 4.5%

Grad Rate: 97.4%

🌍 24% International 👩 48% Women

#16

S

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$109,183

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $91,198

Debt: $19,162

Acceptance: 43.8%

Grad Rate: 88.2%

🌍 16% International 👩 50% Women

#17

S

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, NJ · Private

$108,772

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $90,326

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 43.4%

Grad Rate: 88.2%

🌍 36% International 👩 31% Women

#18

L

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$105,584

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $88,810

Debt: $21,960

Acceptance: 29.3%

Grad Rate: 89.2%

🌍 14% International 👩 48% Women

#19

C

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private

$104,736

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $87,603

Debt: $13,500

Acceptance: 11.1%

Grad Rate: 93.3%

🌍 15% International 👩 50% Women

#20

C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$104,043

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $87,830

Debt: $14,000

Acceptance: 8.2%

Grad Rate: 95.3%

🌍 26% International 👩 53% Women

#21

B

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$103,937

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $85,717

Debt: $19,000

Acceptance: 15.7%

Grad Rate: 90.9%

🌍 12% International 👩 55% Women

#22

G

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

$103,494

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $83,222

Debt: $15,500

Acceptance: 13.1%

Grad Rate: 94.5%

🌍 17% International 👩 55% Women

#23

W

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA · Private

$103,470

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $85,038

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 58.5%

Grad Rate: 89.1%

🌍 15% International 👩 34% Women

#24

G

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$102,772

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $89,432

Debt: $21,672

Acceptance: 16.5%

Grad Rate: 93.2%

🌍 26% International 👩 33% Women

#25

W

West Coast University-Los Angeles

North Hollywood, CA · For-Profit

$102,672

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,114

Debt: $32,946

Acceptance: N/A

Grad Rate: 44.4%

🌍 0% International 👩 79% Women

#26

W

West Coast University-Orange County

Anaheim, CA · For-Profit

$102,672

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,114

Debt: $32,946

Acceptance: N/A

Grad Rate: 64.3%

🌍 0% International 👩 79% Women

#27

W

West Coast University-Ontario

Ontario, CA · For-Profit

$102,672

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,114

Debt: $32,946

Acceptance: N/A

Grad Rate: 50.0%

🌍 0% International 👩 77% Women

#28

W

West Coast University-Texas

Richardson, TX · For-Profit

$102,672

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,114

Debt: $32,946

Acceptance: N/A

🌍 1% International 👩 87% Women

#29

W

West Coast University-Miami

Doral, FL · For-Profit

$102,672

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,114

Debt: $32,946

Acceptance: N/A

Grad Rate: 50.0%

🌍 0% International 👩 88% Women

#30

C

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$102,491

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $88,535

Debt: $21,500

Acceptance: 4.2%

Grad Rate: 95.5%

🌍 39% International 👩 54% Women

#31

R

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

$102,051

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $83,054

Debt: $23,750

Acceptance: 58.5%

Grad Rate: 83.2%

🌍 14% International 👩 31% Women

#32

H

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private

$101,817

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $99,572

Debt: $14,000

Acceptance: 3.5%

Grad Rate: 97.5%

🌍 26% International 👩 54% Women

#33

R

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN · Private

$101,253

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $85,935

Debt: $25,000

Acceptance: 72.8%

Grad Rate: 80.0%

🌍 8% International 👩 24% Women

#34

Y

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private

$100,533

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $81,765

Debt: $12,975

Acceptance: 4.5%

Grad Rate: 96.0%

🌍 24% International 👩 53% Women

#35

V

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$100,423

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,905

Debt: $25,874

Acceptance: 25.1%

Grad Rate: 92.4%

🌍 4% International 👩 54% Women

#36

U

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$99,980

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $86,210

Debt: $19,000

Acceptance: 12.4%

Grad Rate: 96.0%

🌍 14% International 👩 47% Women

#37

N

Neumont College of Computer Science

Salt Lake City, UT · For-Profit

$97,827

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $77,865

Acceptance: 89.2%

Grad Rate: 56.5%

🌍 0% International 👩 18% Women

#38

D

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

$97,800

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $85,792

Debt: $13,000

Acceptance: 6.8%

Grad Rate: 95.8%

🌍 25% International 👩 55% Women

#39

D

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

$97,434

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $82,541

Debt: $17,500

Acceptance: 6.2%

Grad Rate: 95.8%

🌍 21% International 👩 49% Women

#40

C

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public

$97,335

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $82,950

Debt: $23,000

Acceptance: 59.7%

Grad Rate: 80.9%

🌍 8% International 👩 32% Women

#41

M

Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing

New York, NY · Private

$96,980

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $99,344

Debt: $19,750

Acceptance: N/A

🌍 0% International 👩 88% Women

#42

S

SUNY Maritime College

Throggs Neck, NY · Public

$95,951

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $83,439

Debt: $23,250

Acceptance: 78.5%

Grad Rate: 74.9%

🌍 3% International 👩 13% Women

#43

K

Kettering University

Flint, MI · Private

$94,823

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $80,275

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 79.1%

Grad Rate: 70.7%

🌍 8% International 👩 22% Women

#44

W

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · Private

$94,810

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $76,516

Debt: $19,500

Acceptance: 17.4%

Grad Rate: 94.9%

🌍 6% International 👩 51% Women

#45

C

California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA · Public

$94,784

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,676

Debt: $24,965

Acceptance: 98.7%

Grad Rate: 63.3%

🌍 0% International 👩 19% Women

#46

B

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

$93,807

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $78,852

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 32.0%

Grad Rate: 86.2%

🌍 5% International 👩 53% Women

#47

A

American University of Health Sciences

Signal Hill, CA · For-Profit

$93,610

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $111,064

Debt: $40,326

Acceptance: 100.0%

Grad Rate: 50.0%

🌍 2% International 👩 73% Women

#48

B

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private

$93,487

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $79,131

Debt: $11,428

Acceptance: 5.2%

Grad Rate: 96.0%

🌍 20% International 👩 52% Women

#49

J

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

New York, NY · Private

$92,751

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $58,656

Acceptance: 45.1%

Grad Rate: 88.4%

🌍 2% International 👩 55% Women

#50

N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$92,538

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $78,413

Debt: $24,250

Acceptance: 16.5%

🌍 21% International 👩 50% Women

#51

N

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$92,538

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $78,413

Debt: $24,250

Acceptance: 5.7%

Grad Rate: 90.5%

🌍 39% International 👩 52% Women

#52

U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$92,498

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $74,461

Debt: $18,000

Acceptance: 10.0%

Grad Rate: 91.9%

🌍 27% International 👩 53% Women

#53

U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$92,446

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $74,919

Debt: $13,000

Acceptance: 11.7%

Grad Rate: 92.9%

🌍 17% International 👩 54% Women

#54

C

Chamberlain University-Illinois

Addison, IL · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 88.6%

Grad Rate: 50.0%

🌍 0% International 👩 90% Women

#55

C

Chamberlain University-Ohio

Columbus, OH · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 75.0%

0

🌍 0% International 👩 90% Women

#56

C

Chamberlain University-Arizona

Phoenix, AZ · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 87.5%

Grad Rate: 66.7%

🌍 0% International 👩 83% Women

#57

C

Chamberlain University-Florida

Jacksonville, FL · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 100.0%

Grad Rate: 33.3%

🌍 0% International 👩 89% Women

#58

C

Chamberlain University-Virginia

Vienna, VA · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 100.0%

Grad Rate: 100.0%

🌍 1% International 👩 90% Women

#59

C

Chamberlain University-Missouri

St. Louis, MO · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 83.3%

Grad Rate: 33.3%

🌍 0% International 👩 92% Women

#60

C

Chamberlain University-Texas

Houston, TX · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 95.7%

0

🌍 0% International 👩 87% Women

#61

C

Chamberlain University-Georgia

Sandy Springs, GA · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 96.2%

🌍 0% International 👩 91% Women

#62

C

Chamberlain University-Indiana

Indianapolis, IN · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 100.0%

Grad Rate: 100.0%

🌍 1% International 👩 91% Women

#63

C

Chamberlain University-Nevada

Las Vegas, NV · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 75.0%

0

🌍 0% International 👩 80% Women

#64

C

Chamberlain University-Michigan

Troy, MI · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 88.9%

🌍 0% International 👩 86% Women

#65

C

Chamberlain University-New Jersey

North Brunswick, NJ · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 90.0%

0

🌍 1% International 👩 86% Women

#66

C

Chamberlain University-North Carolina

Charlotte, NC · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 66.7%

0

🌍 0% International 👩 90% Women

#67

C

Chamberlain University-California

Rancho Cordova, CA · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 60.0%

0

🌍 0% International 👩 80% Women

#68

C

Chamberlain University-Louisiana

Jefferson, LA · For-Profit

$92,405

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $84,533

Debt: $20,919

Acceptance: 90.9%

🌍 0% International 👩 91% Women

#69

U

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$91,885

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $80,870

Debt: $15,000

Acceptance: 4.8%

Grad Rate: 95.4%

🌍 31% International 👩 46% Women

#70

V

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

$91,565

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $73,909

Debt: $14,000

Acceptance: 6.3%

Grad Rate: 92.7%

🌍 13% International 👩 56% Women

#71

L

Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private

$91,410

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $80,614

Debt: $16,000

Acceptance: 31.5%

Grad Rate: 88.0%

🌍 7% International 👩 49% Women

#72

G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$90,873

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $71,607

Debt: $20,449

Acceptance: 43.5%

Grad Rate: 84.5%

🌍 14% International 👩 62% Women

#73

T

Trinity College

Hartford, CT · Private

$90,779

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $67,628

Debt: $23,000

Acceptance: 33.5%

Grad Rate: 83.3%

🌍 13% International 👩 52% Women

#74

C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$90,768

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $72,358

Debt: $18,500

Acceptance: 29.8%

Grad Rate: 85.7%

🌍 1% International 👩 50% Women

#75

U

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY · Public

$90,610

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $96,770

Debt: $8,833

Acceptance: 32.5%

Grad Rate: 80.6%

🌍 0% International 👩 18% Women

#76

C

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

$90,543

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $69,984

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 21.1%

Grad Rate: 88.4%

🌍 3% International 👩 55% Women

#77

B

Bryant University

Smithfield, RI · Private

$90,008

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $66,488

Debt: $26,849

Acceptance: 65.6%

Grad Rate: 80.6%

🌍 6% International 👩 36% Women

#78

M

Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME · Public

$89,964

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $93,944

Debt: $27,000

Acceptance: 61.4%

Grad Rate: 59.9%

🌍 1% International 👩 20% Women

#79

U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$89,812

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $69,951

Debt: $23,000

Acceptance: 50.8%

Grad Rate: 70.6%

🌍 12% International 👩 65% Women

#80

R

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$89,718

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $79,751

Debt: $11,000

Acceptance: 7.9%

Grad Rate: 95.7%

🌍 26% International 👩 44% Women

#81

C

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Private

$89,696

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $76,970

Debt: $26,000

Acceptance: 77.2%

Grad Rate: 74.3%

🌍 14% International 👩 36% Women

#82

Y

Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland

Suffern, NY · Private

$89,548

10yr Earnings

Acceptance: 34.7%

🌍 9% International 👩 0% Women

#83

N

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$89,363

10yr Earnings

6yr Earnings: $76,844

Debt: $15,000

Acceptance: 7.1%

Grad Rate: 95.5%

🌍 21% International 👩 55% Women