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.

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:$94,200Mid-Career Pay:$181,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:53%
Rank:2School 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:3School 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:4School 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:5School 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:6School Name:SUNY Maritime CollegeSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$86,800Mid-Career Pay:$165,400% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:7School 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:8School 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:9School Name:California State University Maritime AcademySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$82,600Mid-Career Pay:$156,200% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:12%
Rank:10School Name:University of California-San DiegoSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,200Mid-Career Pay:$151,500% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:54%
Rank:11School Name:University of Virginia-Main CampusSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,500Mid-Career Pay:$149,100% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:25%
Rank:12School Name:California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSchool Type:For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$80,500Mid-Career Pay:$148,600% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:12School Name:University of California-Santa BarbaraSchool Type:Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$72,700Mid-Career Pay:$148,600% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:31%
Rank:14School Name:University of California-IrvineSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$74,300Mid-Career Pay:$148,400% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:37%
Rank:15School Name:New Jersey Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,700Mid-Career Pay:$146,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:74%
Rank:16School Name:Virginia Military InstituteSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$78,200Mid-Career Pay:$145,300% High Meaning:65%% STEM Degrees:50%
Rank:17School Name:United States Coast Guard AcademySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$91,400Mid-Career Pay:$144,900% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:60%
Rank:18School Name:University of California-Los AngelesSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$76,000Mid-Career Pay:$144,400% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:34%
Rank:19School Name:New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,800Mid-Career Pay:$144,300% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:90%
Rank:20School Name:Maine Maritime AcademySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,300Mid-Career Pay:$143,100% High Meaning:60%% STEM Degrees:49%
Rank:21School Name:University of California-DavisSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$76,200Mid-Career Pay:$142,700% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:22School Name:Missouri University of Science and TechnologySchool Type:Engineering, Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$81,600Mid-Career Pay:$141,500% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:79%
Rank:23School Name:University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$77,600Mid-Career Pay:$139,900% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:40%
Rank:24School Name:Texas A & M University-College StationSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$72,600Mid-Career Pay:$139,700% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:31%
Rank:25School Name:University of Michigan-Ann ArborSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$80,300Mid-Career Pay:$137,500% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:42%

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