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Top 10 colleges to attend if you want to make a lot of money—Harvard and Yale didn’t make the list
Many factors determine how much money you’ll earn after college. But where you go to school may also play an important role.
If your goal after college is to earn the highest possible salary, California Institute of Technology may be the best choice, according to a new New York Times ranking tool. The tool allows you rank colleges based on your own priorities, whether that’s post-grad earnings, net price, campus safety or more.
The Times used Department of Education data to inform the tool’s rankings, and specifically looked at median income in 2020 among those who attended the schools 10 years ago — regardless of completion — and received federal aid.
Former Caltech attendees earn a median income of $112,166 a decade after starting school, making them the highest earners among the nearly 900 colleges ranked.
Only two Ivy League schools — known for their top academic rankings, along with strong records of churning out high-earners — make the top 10 for highest median incomes.
The best colleges for high earnings
Overall, the median annual income for all full-time workers ages 25 to 34 — roughly the age range of those who would have started college 10 years ago — was $52,832 at the end of 2022, Labor Department data shows.
College graduates bring in significantly more than those who don’t finish. Bachelor’s degree holders ages 25 to 34 earned a median annual income of $59,600 in 2020, compared with $36,600 for those in the same age group who only completed high school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Of course, the field you major in and the job you’re able to get after college can also affect your earnings.
But going to a prestigious college or university appears to pay off. The five colleges with the highest-paid former students all have median incomes above $100,000.
Here are the 10 schools whose previous attendees are earning the most, according to the New York Times’ analysis:
1. California Institute of Technology
Median income 10 years after attendance: $112,166
Median debt among graduates: $17,747
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Median income 10 years after attendance: $111,222
Median debt among graduates: $13,418
3. Harvey Mudd College
Median income 10 years after attendance: $108,988
Median debt among graduates: $22,089
4. Bentley University
Median income 10 years after attendance: $107,974
Median debt among graduates: $25,000
5. University of Pennsylvania
Median income 10 years after attendance: $103,246
Median debt among graduates: $16,763
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Median income 10 years after attendance: $99,998
Median debt among graduates: $22,014
7. Stevens Institute of Technology
Median income 10 years after attendance: $98,159
Median debt among graduates: $27,000
8. Stanford University
Median income 10 years after attendance: $97,798
Median debt among graduates: $12,000
9. Georgetown University
Median income 10 years after attendance: $96,375
Median debt among graduates: $16,500
10. Princeton University
Median income 10 years after attendance: $95,689
Median debt among graduates: $10,450
It shouldn’t be too surprising to see several technical colleges make the list. These schools specialize in vocational and job-specific training, especially in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, which are also the best-paying college majors.
The best college for you
While many future college students may look for the best financial outcome, there are plenty of other factors to consider when it comes to choosing a school, such as location, available majors, athletic programs and more.
There are a number of holistic or factor-specific rankings available that can help you see which schools are the best fit for you. The New York Times’ tool is helpful because you’re able to prioritize a number of different factors to create a ranking unique to your personal desires.
One key component for many: the cost of attendance. Some schools may boast high earnings for former students, but be pricey to attend. That shouldn’t necessarily deter you from your dream school, however. Financial aid and scholarships may ease the burden of tuition costs and even help you avoid taking out loans.
When evaluating the cost of college, make sure to look at all the different prices out there. The sticker price is typically what the school says it charges students for tuition and fees, but the net price is what you’ll pay after any scholarships, grants and financial aid.
Princeton, for example, has a fairly high sticker price ($78,490), but maintains a low average net price or cost of attendance ($9,836), due to the aid it gives to students.
Also worth keeping in mind: Even if your school of choice reports high earnings among former students, there are no guarantees you’ll land a job right out of school or that it will pay as much as you hope.
注释：
prestigious: adj
表示" 享有声望的；声望很高的；"，means "having an illustrious reputation; respected"，如：Her first novel won a prestigious literary prize. 她的第一部小说就获得了一个颇具声望的文学奖。
holistic: adj
表示" 整体的；全盘的"，means "emphasizing the organic or functional relation between parts and the whole"，如：This is the holistic approach to energy healing. 这就是能量疗法的整体性。
deter: v
表示" 阻止；威慑；"，means "try to prevent; show opposition to"，如：No difficulty can deter us from trying it again. 没有困难可以阻止我们再试一次。
中文简要说明：
身在大学、硕士生满街跑的时代，学历已经不是获取高薪的唯一准则，但不可否认，不少企业仍十分看重求职者是否拥有一纸好文凭。根据《纽约时报》调查，就读加州理工学院可能是获取高薪的最佳选择，从该校毕业的学生，年薪中位数为11万2166美元；麻省理工学院紧追在后，年薪中位数为11万1222美元。令人意外的是，知名的哈佛、耶鲁两所大学没有上榜。
纽时这份排名使用美国教育部的数据，针对2010年领取联邦补助、进入大学就读的学生（无论是否完成学业），检视他们10年后的收入表现。在将近900所大学中，加州理工学院（California Institute of Technology）的毕业生收入最高，麻省理工学院（Massachusetts Institute of Technology）居次，哈维穆德学院（Harvey Mudd College）排名第三。
其余前10大学依序是：4. 本特利大学（Bentley University）；5. 宾州大学（University of Pennsylvania）；6. 卡内基美隆大学（Carnegie Mellon University）；7. 史蒂文斯理工学院（Stevens Institute of Technology）；8. 史丹佛大学（Stanford University）；9. 乔治敦大学（Georgetown University）；10. 普林斯顿大学（Princeton University）。排名前5大学的学生，年薪中位数都在10万美元以上。
报导指出，除了毕业后可获得的薪资报酬，学费成本也是选择大学的考虑重点。不少校誉卓著、学术成果顶尖的名校都是由私人经营，学费不低，但学生仍可透过申请奖学金来减轻就学负担。另外，也必须考虑地理位置和专业科目，才能选到理想的好学校。
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