Best Research Universities by Salary Potential

Considering a research university for your bachelor’s degree? Learn more about the top research universities 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: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:4School 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:5School 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:6School 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:7School 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:8School 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:9School 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:10School 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:11School 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:12School 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:13School 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:14School 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%
Rank:15School Name:Carnegie Mellon UniversitySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$96,700Mid-Career Pay:$162,100% High Meaning:41%% STEM Degrees:68%
Rank:16School Name:Worcester Polytechnic InstituteSchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$89,100Mid-Career Pay:$161,000% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:86%
Rank:17School Name:University of Notre DameSchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$83,600Mid-Career Pay:$160,200% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:30%
Rank:18School Name:Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteSchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$86,900Mid-Career Pay:$159,100% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:79%
Rank:19School Name:Duke UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$87,400Mid-Career Pay:$158,700% High Meaning:50%% STEM Degrees:28%
Rank:20School Name:Clarkson UniversitySchool Type:Engineering, Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$79,900Mid-Career Pay:$157,700% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:54%
Rank:21School Name:Columbia University in the City of New YorkSchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$89,300Mid-Career Pay:$156,000% High Meaning:45%% STEM Degrees:36%
Rank:22School Name:Cornell UniversitySchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$86,100Mid-Career Pay:$155,400% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:46%
Rank:23School Name:Brown UniversitySchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$85,200Mid-Career Pay:$155,000% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:42%
Rank:24School Name:Brandeis UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$72,700Mid-Career Pay:$153,600% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:33%
Rank:25School Name:Rice UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$88,000Mid-Career Pay:$152,100% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:45%

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