Best Public Universities by Salary Potential
Want a great education without the high costs of a private university? Learn more about the top public schools with the highest-earning graduates.
| Rank | School Name | School Type | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | % High Meaning | % STEM Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: at Annapolis_50px.png) United States Naval Academy | School Type:Engineering, Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$94,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$181,500 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:53% |
| Rank:2 | School Name: at West Point_50px.png) United States Military Academy | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$93,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$171,000 | % High Meaning:65% | % STEM Degrees:35% |
| Rank:3 | School Name: University of California-Berkeley | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$88,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$167,000 | % High Meaning:49% | % STEM Degrees:43% |
| Rank:4 | School Name:_50px.png) United States Air Force Academy | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Sober School, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$88,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$166,100 | % High Meaning:63% | % STEM Degrees:42% |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Colorado School of Mines | School Type:Engineering, Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$87,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$165,700 | % High Meaning:56% | % STEM Degrees:91% |
| Rank:6 | School Name: SUNY Maritime College | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$86,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$165,400 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:18% |
| Rank:7 | School Name:_50px.png) United States Merchant Marine Academy | School Type:Engineering, State School | Early Career Pay:$98,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$165,200 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:51% |
| Rank:8 | School Name: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | School Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$89,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$163,500 | % High Meaning:47% | % STEM Degrees:77% |
| Rank:9 | School Name: California State University Maritime Academy | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$82,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$156,200 | % High Meaning:49% | % STEM Degrees:12% |
| Rank:10 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-San Diego | School Type:Engineering, Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$79,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$151,500 | % High Meaning:54% | % STEM Degrees:54% |
| Rank:11 | School Name: - Main Campus_50px.jpg) University of Virginia-Main Campus | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$79,500 | Mid-Career Pay:$149,100 | % High Meaning:44% | % STEM Degrees:25% |
| Rank:12 | School Name: - San Luis Obispo_50px.png) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | School Type:For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$80,500 | Mid-Career Pay:$148,600 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:36% |
| Rank:12 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-Santa Barbara | School Type:Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$72,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$148,600 | % High Meaning:48% | % STEM Degrees:31% |
| Rank:14 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of California-Irvine | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$74,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$148,400 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:37% |
| Rank:15 | School Name:_50px.jpg) New Jersey Institute of Technology | School Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$78,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$146,500 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:74% |
| Rank:16 | School Name:_50px.png) Virginia Military Institute | School Type:Liberal Arts School, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$78,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$145,300 | % High Meaning:65% | % STEM Degrees:50% |
| Rank:17 | School Name:United States Coast Guard Academy | School Type:Engineering, State School | Early Career Pay:$91,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$144,900 | % High Meaning:- | % STEM Degrees:60% |
| Rank:18 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of California-Los Angeles | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$76,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$144,400 | % High Meaning:50% | % STEM Degrees:34% |
| Rank:19 | School Name:_50px.png) New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | School Type:Engineering, State School | Early Career Pay:$79,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$144,300 | % High Meaning:56% | % STEM Degrees:90% |
| Rank:20 | School Name:Maine Maritime Academy | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$79,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$143,100 | % High Meaning:60% | % STEM Degrees:49% |
| Rank:21 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of California-Davis | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$76,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$142,700 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:36% |
| Rank:22 | School Name:_50px.jpg) Missouri University of Science and Technology | School Type:Engineering, Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$81,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$141,500 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:79% |
| Rank:23 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$77,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$139,900 | % High Meaning:43% | % STEM Degrees:40% |
| Rank:24 | School Name: Texas A & M University-College Station | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$72,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$139,700 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:31% |
| Rank:25 | School Name: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$80,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$137,500 | % High Meaning:46% | % STEM Degrees:42% |
