Best Public Universities by Salary Potential

Choosing the right degree is an important step toward your financial future. Learn which public schools turn out the highest-paid college graduates by salary.

Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:United States Naval AcademySchool Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$103,000Mid-Career Pay:$194,000% High Meaning:62%% STEM Degrees:53%
Rank:2School Name:United States Military AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$99,100Mid-Career Pay:$185,900% High Meaning:65%% STEM Degrees:35%
Rank:3School Name:SUNY Maritime CollegeSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$88,300Mid-Career Pay:$179,800% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:4School Name:University of California-BerkeleySchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$90,400Mid-Career Pay:$174,800% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:43%
Rank:5School Name:United States Air Force AcademySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$94,800Mid-Career Pay:$173,100% High Meaning:69%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:6School Name:United States Merchant Marine AcademySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$99,600Mid-Career Pay:$170,300% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:51%
Rank:7School Name:Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$91,400Mid-Career Pay:$169,100% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:77%
Rank:8School Name:Colorado School of MinesSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$89,100Mid-Career Pay:$168,700% High Meaning:59%% STEM Degrees:91%
Rank:9School Name:United States Coast Guard AcademySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$92,900Mid-Career Pay:$168,300% High Meaning:72%% STEM Degrees:60%
Rank:10School Name:University of California-San DiegoSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,000Mid-Career Pay:$161,000% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:54%
Rank:11School Name:California State University Maritime AcademySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,000Mid-Career Pay:$157,000% High Meaning:45%% STEM Degrees:12%
Rank:12School Name:New Jersey Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,100Mid-Career Pay:$156,900% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:74%
Rank:13School Name:University of California-Los AngelesSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$80,100Mid-Career Pay:$154,200% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:34%
Rank:14School Name:University of Virginia-Main CampusSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,400Mid-Career Pay:$154,100% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:15School Name:University of California-Santa BarbaraSchool Type:Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$75,600Mid-Career Pay:$154,000% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:31%
Rank:16School Name:University of California-IrvineSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$76,800Mid-Career Pay:$153,400% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:37%
Rank:17School Name:California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSchool Type:For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,500Mid-Career Pay:$153,300% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:18School Name:Virginia Military InstituteSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,400Mid-Career Pay:$151,700% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:50%
Rank:19School Name:University of California-DavisSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,400Mid-Career Pay:$150,500% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:20School Name:Missouri University of Science and TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,800Mid-Career Pay:$149,700% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:79%
Rank:21School Name:University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$80,000Mid-Career Pay:$149,200% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:40%
Rank:22School Name:University of Michigan-Ann ArborSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,500Mid-Career Pay:$148,700% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:23School Name:Maine Maritime AcademySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$80,200Mid-Career Pay:$148,000% High Meaning:62%% STEM Degrees:49%
Rank:24School Name:New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,000Mid-Career Pay:$147,400% High Meaning:61%% STEM Degrees:90%
Rank:25School Name:Texas A & M University-College StationSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$74,700Mid-Career Pay:$145,800% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:31%

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