The Best Universities For a Bachelor’s Degree

Before taking the plunge and enrolling in a four-year program, do some research and check out the top colleges with the highest-paid graduates.

Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Princeton UniversitySchool Type:Engineering, Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$93,000Mid-Career Pay:$189,400% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:51%
Rank:1School Name:Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$106,400Mid-Career Pay:$189,400% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:66%
Rank:3School Name:United States Naval AcademySchool Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$94,200Mid-Career Pay:$181,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:53%
Rank:4School Name:Harvey Mudd CollegeSchool Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$110,400Mid-Career Pay:$179,600% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:79%
Rank:5School Name:Stanford UniversitySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$98,900Mid-Career Pay:$177,500% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:52%
Rank:6School Name:Babson CollegeSchool Type:Business, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$88,000Mid-Career Pay:$175,200% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:7School Name:Colgate UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Party School, Private School, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$84,100Mid-Career Pay:$173,800% High Meaning:42%% STEM Degrees:26%
Rank:8School Name:Dartmouth CollegeSchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$89,000Mid-Career Pay:$173,300% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:9School Name:Santa Clara UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$87,300Mid-Career Pay:$173,100% High Meaning:45%% STEM Degrees:23%
Rank:10School Name:University of PennsylvaniaSchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$89,100Mid-Career Pay:$171,800% High Meaning:37%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:11School Name:Harvard UniversitySchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$91,700Mid-Career Pay:$171,400% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:19%
Rank:12School Name:United States Military AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$93,400Mid-Career Pay:$171,000% High Meaning:65%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:13School Name:Williams CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,900Mid-Career Pay:$169,200% High Meaning:38%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:14School Name:Stevens Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$90,300Mid-Career Pay:$168,700% High Meaning:45%% STEM Degrees:71%
Rank:15School Name:California Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$105,000Mid-Career Pay:$168,600% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:98%
Rank:16School Name:Yale UniversitySchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$89,700Mid-Career Pay:$168,300% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:27%
Rank:17School Name:Lehigh UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$85,800Mid-Career Pay:$168,200% High Meaning:41%% STEM Degrees:45%
Rank:18School Name:Claremont McKenna CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$86,700Mid-Career Pay:$167,000% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:18School Name:University of California-BerkeleySchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$88,300Mid-Career Pay:$167,000% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:43%
Rank:20School Name:United States Air Force AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$88,900Mid-Career Pay:$166,100% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:21School Name:Colorado School of MinesSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$87,800Mid-Career Pay:$165,700% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:91%
Rank:22School Name:SUNY Maritime CollegeSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$86,800Mid-Career Pay:$165,400% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:23School Name:United States Merchant Marine AcademySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$98,400Mid-Career Pay:$165,200% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:51%
Rank:24School Name:Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$89,700Mid-Career Pay:$163,500% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:77%
Rank:25School Name:Georgetown UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$81,100Mid-Career Pay:$163,400% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:14%

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