Industry

Lehigh alumni find work in an assortment of industries including the medical device manufacturing industry, the aerospace and defense industry, and the financial services industry. Among Lehigh grads, the engineering services industry is a commonly chosen career field. Pulling in paychecks on the larger end are Lehigh grads, which is not shocking considering the high SAT scores and solid graduation rate reported by this demographic. Those with an education from Lehigh earn an average of approximately $77K.

Jobs

Lehigh grads who become Marketing VPs garner financial rewards beyond any other job type for this group — these alumni rake in an average around $130K annually. However, Engineering Project Managers and Senior Mechanical Engineers also rank as top-earners (bringing in $106K and $86K, respectively). Salaries are anything but generous for Mechanical Engineers, whose earnings rank lowest on the pay scale at about $74K.

Locations

Home to a large number of Lehigh alums, New York, N.Y. is by far the most attractive city for these former students. Boston, Mass. is another hot spot for Lehigh grads, where salaries rank at the top of the pay scale (compensation averages out to $107K). Living in Bethlehem after college is common among Lehigh University grads, whose love for the area is more important than the below-average median pay ($50K). Close-by Allentown, Pa. and Pittsburgh, Pa. are also desirable cities among Lehigh alumni.

Degree Major

A Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Administration will compensate Lehigh grads at a much higher rate than other degrees — these alums rake in about $100K on average per year. Ranking last in the compensation department are those holding a Doctorate (PhD) — their annual income amounts to $50K on average.

Skills

Many former Lehigh students are familiar with Project Management, and just under a third of grads move on to positions where this experience is utilized. Former Mountain Hawks with Microsoft Project experience garner salaries that are 13 percent more than other grads' salaries. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, and Engineering Design is highly valued as well.

Benefits and Perks

As for time away from work, slightly more than half of the survey participants are compensated for vacation days, but only one-fourth of alumni can take paid time off due to illness. It is no small feat that nearly all alums are given health coverage, and a large number of former students accept dental insurance. Nearly all former students allocate some part of their earnings to a company-sponsored 401(k) savings plan. Alumni of Lehigh University also take in life insurance, a casual working environment, tuition reimbursement, and a company-subsidized cell phone.

Related Schools

Saint Louis University grads bring in salaries of around approximately $75K, making them the most similar to Lehigh alumni in terms of earnings. Other schools similar to Lehigh include Teachers College at Columbia University, Fordham University, and Catholic University of America.

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