Way down south you have big institutions like Duke and Georgetown, as well as smaller schools like Davidson and Washington and Lee, that can get you a lucrative gig. Pick your favorite with PayScale's list of southern colleges by salary potential.
Methodology Annual pay for Bachelors graduates without higher degrees. Typical starting graduates have 2 years of experience; mid-career have 15 years. See full methodology for more.
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Top Southern Colleges By Salary Potential - Full List
Starting Median Salary
Mid-Career Median Salary
Duke University
$54,400
$113,000
Georgia Institute of Technology
$57,500
$102,000
Vanderbilt University
$51,300
$100,000
Washington and Lee University
$48,600
$99,800
Loyola College in Maryland
$47,500
$98,800
Wake Forest University
$46,000
$98,800
Hampden-Sydney College
$46,300
$98,600
Rice University
$51,100
$97,400
Georgetown University
$50,300
$96,900
The College of William and Mary
$45,000
$96,500
Davidson College
$41,600
$94,500
Johns Hopkins University
$54,000
$93,400
George Washington University (GWU)
$48,500
$92,700
Texas A&M University
$50,200
$92,500
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
$51,600
$91,500
Hendrix College
$38,600
$91,500
University of Virginia (UVA)
$49,500
$90,300
University of Maryland (UMD)
$49,500
$89,800
University of Texas (UT) - Austin
$48,200
$89,500
Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech)
$53,700
$88,700
George Mason University
$48,800
$88,600
American University, Washington D.C.
$40,800
$88,000
Samford University
$37,600
$87,200
Rhodes College
$38,400
$87,200
Clemson University
$47,300
$85,800
Christian Brothers University
$40,800
$85,700
Texas Tech University
$46,500
$85,500
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
$45,400
$85,200
Louisiana Tech University
$43,300
$85,100
Auburn University
$42,200
$85,000
University of Tulsa
$47,500
$84,800
University of Richmond
$47,300
$84,300
James Madison University (JMU)
$44,900
$83,800
Tulane University
$45,000
$83,700
Trinity University
$44,700
$83,600
University of Delaware
$46,800
$83,400
North Carolina State University (NCSU)
$46,500
$83,200
Baylor University
$43,100
$83,200
Emory University
$45,400
$83,000
West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)
$45,700
$82,300
Catholic University of America
$44,300
$82,000
University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
$48,600
$81,600
Lamar University
$42,100
$81,500
St. Mary's University, Texas
$43,200
$81,400
Louisiana State University (LSU)
$44,100
$81,400
University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH)
$46,500
$81,200
Southern Polytechnic State University
$47,300
$81,200
West Virginia University (WVU)
$45,400
$80,800
University of Florida (UF)
$45,300
$80,700
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
$41,100
$80,600
Furman University
$38,900
$80,400
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
$50,400
$79,900
Millsaps College
$40,400
$79,500
University of Georgia (UGA)
$41,000
$79,400
Saint Mary's College of Maryland
$41,700
$79,300
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
$42,100
$79,200
Towson University
$41,400
$79,200
University of Oklahoma
$44,300
$79,200
Stetson University
$38,400
$79,000
University of Miami (UM)
$46,400
$78,700
Howard University
$43,700
$78,300
University of Kentucky (UK)
$40,900
$78,300
Transylvania University
$40,900
$78,300
Texas Christian University (TCU)
$44,900
$78,300
Stevenson University
$40,200
$78,100
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
$46,500
$78,000
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
$45,000
$78,000
University of Arkansas
$41,100
$77,900
University of Houston (UH)
$44,800
$77,900
University of Mississippi
$40,300
$77,600
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
$43,100
$76,900
Abilene Christian University
$38,600
$76,800
Tuskegee University
$42,700
$76,700
University of Texas at Dallas
$45,000
$76,400
Tennessee Technological University (TTU)
$42,500
$76,400
Nova Southeastern University
$45,300
$75,700
Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Virginia)
$42,100
$75,600
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
$49,700
$75,400
Wofford College
$34,700
$74,800
University of Tampa
$38,600
$74,700
University of Tennessee
$41,400
$74,500
Morehouse College
$44,500
$74,300
Mississippi State University (MSU)
$40,600
$73,700
University of Baltimore
$47,800
$73,400
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC)
$43,500
$73,400
Harding University
$40,300
$73,300
Averett University
$35,900
$73,300
Frostburg State University
$41,600
$73,200
Florida State University (FSU)
$38,500
$73,200
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
$51,700
$72,900
Florida International University (FIU)
$40,500
$72,700
Queens University
$39,600
$72,700
Georgia State University
$40,800
$72,600
University of South Alabama
$40,300
$72,500
University of Louisville
$40,600
$72,400
University of New Orleans (UNO)
$41,300
$72,100
McDaniel College
$41,300
$72,100
Texas Lutheran University
$39,700
$71,600
Salisbury University
$40,100
$71,500
University of Louisiana (UL) at Lafayette
$37,800
$71,300
Goucher College
$37,000
$71,300
Lipscomb University
$40,200
$71,100
Thomas More College
$44,200
$71,100
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC)
$32,800
$71,000
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
$42,800
$71,000
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
$33,700
$70,700
Old Dominion University
$41,600
$70,600
Southwestern University
$44,200
$70,600
University of South Carolina
$38,800
$70,400
Bob Jones University
$36,900
$70,200
Lynchburg College
$39,200
$70,200
Hampton University
$44,800
$70,100
McNeese State University
$40,000
$69,700
Wheeling Jesuit University
$36,800
$69,600
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
$39,900
$69,600
Texas Woman's University
$41,500
$69,500
Xavier University of Louisiana
$42,300
$69,400
Rollins College
$38,000
$69,300
Roanoke College
$37,500
$69,300
University of North Texas (UNT)
$39,300
$69,100
Methodist University
$39,400
$68,900
University of Memphis (U of M)
$40,600
$68,900
John Brown University
$36,000
$68,900
Strayer University
$45,000
$68,600
LeTourneau University
$48,900
$68,500
University of South Florida (USF)
$39,800
$68,400
Austin College
$39,300
$68,400
Bowie State University (BSU)
$45,400
$68,300
Marymount University
$43,200
$68,300
Elon University
$41,600
$68,300
North Carolina A&T State University
$45,700
$68,200
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University (FAMU)
$40,300
$68,200
Prairie View A & M University
$46,400
$68,100
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
$40,600
$68,000
University of Central Florida (UCF)
$40,100
$68,000
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
$39,100
$68,000
Washington College (Maryland)
$45,600
$67,900
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA)
$38,200
$67,600
Eastern Kentucky University
$35,600
$67,500
Bellarmine University
$45,200
$67,500
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$44,500
$67,500
Augusta State University
$36,200
$67,400
Southern University and A&M College
$40,900
$67,400
American Public University System
$45,300
$67,400
University of West Florida (UWF)
$37,800
$67,400
Houston Baptist University
$37,200
$67,300
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC)
$37,900
$67,200
Berry College
$34,400
$66,800
Columbus State University
$37,800
$66,600
Jacksonville University
$47,500
$66,600
Miles College
$41,700
$66,400
Ferrum College
$38,500
$66,400
University of North Florida (UNF)
$38,700
$66,300
Texas State University - San Marcos
$39,600
$66,200
Sam Houston State University
$40,300
$66,100
Texas Southern University
$37,800
$66,100
East Carolina University (ECU)
$39,500
$65,900
Spelman College
$37,100
$65,900
Dallas Baptist University
$40,200
$65,800
Birmingham Southern College
$40,600
$65,700
University of the District of Columbia
$44,500
$65,600
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
$40,500
$65,600
Troy University
$37,400
$65,500
Northwestern State University
$36,300
$65,400
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
$41,300
$65,400
Maryland Institute College of Art
$40,700
$65,300
Wayland Baptist University
$41,000
$65,300
Kennesaw State University
$39,800
$65,300
Georgia Southern University
$39,100
$65,200
West Liberty University
$36,900
$65,100
Christopher Newport University
$39,900
$64,800
Barry University
$40,700
$64,600
Midwestern State University (MSU)
$41,000
$64,600
Athens State University
$37,500
$64,500
Hardin-Simmons University (HSU)
$42,900
$64,500
Virginia State University (VSU)
$37,700
$64,500
Barton College
$40,500
$64,400
College of Charleston
$35,800
$64,400
West Texas A & M University
$38,800
$64,300
North Carolina Central University
$36,700
$64,200
Texas Wesleyan University
$43,200
$64,200
Tennessee State University
$42,900
$64,100
Guilford College
$35,600
$64,100
Radford University
$40,800
$64,100
Western Kentucky University
$36,800
$64,000
Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
$38,700
$63,900
Delaware State University
$35,900
$63,900
Loyola University - New Orleans
$41,000
$63,700
Appalachian State University
$35,700
$63,700
North Carolina Wesleyan College (NCWC)
$37,900
$63,600
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
$37,800
$63,300
Eckerd College
$39,000
$63,200
Columbia Southern University
$42,200
$63,100
Shorter College
$39,200
$63,000
Oklahoma City University
$39,800
$62,700
Belmont Abbey College
$43,600
$62,700
Georgia College & State University (GCSU)
$38,300
$62,500
Western Carolina University
$35,000
$62,300
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)
$35,900
$62,200
Oral Roberts University (ORU)
$34,500
$62,000
Angelo State University
$34,900
$62,000
Lander University
$34,200
$61,900
Langston University
$43,200
$61,800
Campbell University
$35,400
$61,800
Cameron University
$33,400
$61,800
University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
$37,900
$61,600
Saint Leo University
$38,800
$61,600
Tarleton State University (TSU)
$39,500
$61,600
Clayton College & State University
$39,000
$61,400
Fairmont State University
$36,700
$61,400
Arkansas State University (ASU)
$34,800
$61,300
Belmont University
$37,500
$61,300
King College
$37,600
$61,300
Winston-Salem State University
$41,100
$61,200
Valdosta State University (VSU)
$33,900
$61,200
Shepherd University
$35,600
$61,200
Bluefield State College
$38,900
$60,900
Henderson State University
$35,600
$60,900
Winthrop University
$35,000
$60,800
Georgia Southwestern State University
$33,600
$60,800
Charleston Southern University (CSU)
$35,900
$60,800
Lubbock Christian University
$34,800
$60,700
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)
$34,600
$60,600
Arkansas Tech University
$40,300
$60,500
Mercer University
$39,200
$60,500
Clark Atlanta University (CAU)
$37,700
$60,200
Jacksonville State University (JSU)
$37,100
$60,100
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$38,900
$60,100
Mountain State University
$42,500
$59,800
University of Texas at Tyler
$40,600
$59,800
Trevecca Nazarene University
$37,800
$59,500
Union University, Tennessee
$39,100
$59,500
Brenau University
$35,300
$59,400
Florida Southern College
$35,700
$59,400
University of The Incarnate Word
$34,900
$59,300
Austin Peay State University
$37,400
$59,200
Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU)
$40,900
$59,100
Wilmington University, Delaware
$35,300
$59,000
University of Arkansas - Little Rock (UALR)
$36,200
$58,900
West Virginia State College
$34,000
$58,800
Marshall University
$35,100
$58,800
Norfolk State University
$38,800
$58,700
High Point University
$37,400
$58,600
Mississippi College
$37,500
$58,600
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB)
$40,600
$58,400
University of North Alabama (UNA)
$37,300
$58,400
Delta State University
$34,400
$58,300
Nicholls State University
$35,600
$58,200
Wingate University
$35,100
$58,100
Morgan State University
$41,000
$58,000
Southeastern Louisiana University
$40,500
$57,800
East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
$36,500
$57,700
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)
$40,300
$57,400
University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA)
$34,000
$57,300
Morehead State University (Kentucky)
$33,700
$57,000
Auburn University Montgomery (AUM)
$37,400
$57,000
South University
$42,300
$56,900
University Of Central Arkansas
$34,900
$56,800
Murray State University
$37,100
$56,800
Bridgewater College
$36,200
$56,400
Lenoir-Rhyne College
$38,200
$56,400
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW)
$35,500
$56,300
Carson Newman College
$32,500
$56,000
Liberty University
$35,400
$56,000
Southeastern University
$34,400
$56,000
Lee University (Cleveland, TN)
$29,900
$55,800
Grambling State University
$37,700
$55,800
Longwood University
$38,800
$55,700
Meredith College
$37,000
$55,700
Alabama A&M University (AAMU)
$36,700
$55,700
Berea College
$32,000
$55,500
Spalding University
$42,100
$55,000
Southern Nazarene University
$37,600
$54,900
Warner University
$38,200
$54,700
Huntingdon College
$33,100
$54,700
Bethune Cookman University
$35,800
$54,700
Gardner-Webb University
$31,100
$54,400
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU)
$39,900
$54,100
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
$36,100
$53,900
William Carey University
$33,900
$53,800
Mississippi University for Women
$40,000
$53,800
Fayetteville State University
$33,000
$53,600
Jackson State University (JSU)
$32,400
$53,600
Limestone College
$39,900
$53,600
University of North Carolina at Pembroke (Uncp)
$32,400
$53,500
Oklahoma Christian University
$38,200
$53,400
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU)
$37,500
$53,300
Alabama State University (ASU)
$32,200
$52,900
The University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin)
$38,100
$52,700
Howard Payne University
$30,300
$52,600
Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC)
$34,900
$52,200
Northeastern State University
$35,300
$51,700
Tusculum College
$35,000
$51,700
Mount Olive College
$32,400
$51,000
Alcorn State University
$31,800
$50,800
University of Montevallo
$32,300
$50,400
Faulkner University
$33,500
$49,100
Asbury College
$34,500
$48,900
Belhaven University
$34,500
$48,300
Shaw University
$34,400
$48,300
East Texas Baptist University (ETBU)
$35,800
$47,700
Benedict College
$32,100
$47,200
East Central University
$37,300
$46,500
Concord University
$31,600
$45,900
Bethel University, Tennessee
$30,900
$45,700
University of the Cumberlands
$32,300
$44,800
Coker College
$27,600
$43,400
Methodology This chart is based upon PayScale Salary Survey data for Bachelors graduates without higher degrees who are full-time employees in the United States. These results may not represent all attendees of these colleges. Salary is the sum of compensation from b See full methodology for more.
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