Location, prestige, academic reputation and tuition are major factors for students in the college selection process, but post-graduate salary is something rarely taken into consideration.
Although salaries depend heavily on a graduate's field of work, companies are willing to pay a premium for students hailing from the nation's top universities. But which undergraduate institutions offer the most valuable educations?
Recently, PayScale.com released a report on the highest salary potential among the nation's top colleges, and from this data, colleges and universities can be ranked by the mid-career median salaries of its graduates. For schools with the same mid-career median salaries, starting median salary determines their relative rank.
So, which schools have highest paid graduates?
Starting median salary: $59,600
Location: Durham, N.C.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,472
College rank: 9 (National)
Acceptance rate: 18.9%
Total undergrad enrollment: 6,578
Starting median salary: $61,000
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,284
College rank: 153 (National)
Acceptance rate: 55%
Total undergrad enrollment: 1,732
Starting median salary: $51,600
Location: Hanover, N.H.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,437
College rank: 9 (National)
Acceptance rate: 12.6%
Total undergrad enrollment: 4,196
Starting median salary: $69,700
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
2010-2011 tuition: $39,212
College rank: 7 (National)
Acceptance rate: 10.7%
Total undergrad enrollment: 4,232
Starting median salary: $54,100
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
2010-2011 tuition: $38,416
College rank: 1 (National)
Acceptance rate: 7.5%
Total undergrad enrollment: 6,655
Starting median salary: $64,400
Location: Claremont, Calif.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,390
College rank: 18 (Liberal Arts)
Acceptance rate: 34.1%
Total undergrad enrollment: 757
Starting median salary: $69,600
Location: Pasadena, Calif.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,282
College rank: 7 (National)
Acceptance rate: 15.3%
Total undergrad enrollment: 951
Starting median salary: $56,900
Location: Princeton, N.J.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,640
College rank: 2 (National)
Acceptance rate: 10.1%
Total undergrad enrollment: 5,113
| More from CNBC.com: • Colleges That Bring the Highest Paycheck • Highest Paid Government Jobs • CEOs Who Went From Rags to Riches |
Although salaries depend heavily on a graduate's field of work, companies are willing to pay a premium for students hailing from the nation's top universities. But which undergraduate institutions offer the most valuable educations?
Recently, PayScale.com released a report on the highest salary potential among the nation's top colleges, and from this data, colleges and universities can be ranked by the mid-career median salaries of its graduates. For schools with the same mid-career median salaries, starting median salary determines their relative rank.
So, which schools have highest paid graduates?
 Duke University |
8. Duke University
Mid-career median salary: $111,000Starting median salary: $59,600
Location: Durham, N.C.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,472
College rank: 9 (National)
Acceptance rate: 18.9%
Total undergrad enrollment: 6,578
 Jim Henderson - Wikicommons |
7. Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Mid-career median salary: $113,000Starting median salary: $61,000
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,284
College rank: 153 (National)
Acceptance rate: 55%
Total undergrad enrollment: 1,732
 Dartmouth College |
6. Dartmouth College
Mid-career median salary: $114,000Starting median salary: $51,600
Location: Hanover, N.H.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,437
College rank: 9 (National)
Acceptance rate: 12.6%
Total undergrad enrollment: 4,196
 Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mid-career median salary: $115,000Starting median salary: $69,700
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
2010-2011 tuition: $39,212
College rank: 7 (National)
Acceptance rate: 10.7%
Total undergrad enrollment: 4,232
 Steve Dunwell - Getty Images |
4. Harvard University
Mid-career median salary: $116,000Starting median salary: $54,100
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
2010-2011 tuition: $38,416
College rank: 1 (National)
Acceptance rate: 7.5%
Total undergrad enrollment: 6,655
 Harvey Mudd College |
3. Harvey Mudd College
Mid-career median salary: $121,000Starting median salary: $64,400
Location: Claremont, Calif.
2010-2011 tuition: $40,390
College rank: 18 (Liberal Arts)
Acceptance rate: 34.1%
Total undergrad enrollment: 757
 CalTech |
2. California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Mid-career median salary: $123,000Starting median salary: $69,600
Location: Pasadena, Calif.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,282
College rank: 7 (National)
Acceptance rate: 15.3%
Total undergrad enrollment: 951
 Princeton University |
1. Princeton University
Mid-career median salary: $130,000Starting median salary: $56,900
Location: Princeton, N.J.
2010-2011 tuition: $36,640
College rank: 2 (National)
Acceptance rate: 10.1%
Total undergrad enrollment: 5,113
For more colleges that bring the highest paychecks, visit CNBC.com.
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