highest-earning college – Using Department of Education College Scorecard earnings data for federally aided students four years after graduation, a state-by-state map identifies the top-earning college in every US state—ranging from MIT in Massachusetts to the University of Alaska Anch
A student’s graduation year can be a turning point. But for 13 million undergraduates who received Title IV federal aid, the real question often comes later: what happens four years down the line?
The Department of Education’s College Scorecard follows that path. It outlines net college costs. student debt. completion rates. and—crucially—earnings outcomes across US colleges and universities for the 13 million students receiving Title IV federal aid. Approximately 55% of undergraduate students in the 2019-2020 school year received some form of federal financial aid.
Using the College Scorecard’s median annual earnings data—measuring how much former federal-aid recipients earn four years after completing their degrees—an analysis mapped the college with the highest-earning graduates in every state. The list draws on the department’s data. then adds each school’s location and its most popular majors as reported by Niche for each institution. since majors can significantly affect graduates’ earnings.
The method focuses on public or private nonprofit four-year schools, spanning both smaller specialized programs and large universities. It also comes with caveats familiar to anyone who follows education rankings: the earnings data applies only to former federal-aid recipients. and specialized schools may be more likely to top some states because graduates in certain fields tend to earn more.
Still, the state-by-state results create a striking cross-section of where paychecks tend to concentrate.
Massachusetts tops out at MIT. Median annual earnings four years after graduation come in at $162,000, with top majors listed as Computer science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering.
At the other end of the range, Alaska’s top school is the University of Alaska Anchorage, with median earnings four years after graduation of $69,000. Its top majors are Mechanic and repair technologies, nursing, psychology, business management, and administration.
The map shows how different regions and different institutional types can drive very different earnings outcomes. In California. the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena sits at $153. 000. with top majors listed as Computer science. mechanical engineering. and physics. In Georgia. Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta reports median earnings of $119. 000. with top majors listed as Information science. mechanical engineering. business. and industrial engineering.
Some states put medicine and health sciences at the center. Nevada’s highest-earning graduates come from Touro University Nevada in Henderson. where median earnings are $122. 000 and the top major is Nursing. Louisiana’s top school is the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. also centered on health: median earnings are $81. 000 with top majors listed as Nursing.
Engineering-heavy schools appear repeatedly. Colorado’s highest-earning graduates come from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. with median earnings of $100. 000 and top majors listed as Mechanical engineering. computer science. chemical engineering. and electrical engineering. In New Hampshire. Dartmouth College in Hanover shows median earnings of $112. 000. with top majors listed as Economics. political science and government. computer science. engineering. and environmental science.
The results extend across the country, state by state:
ALABAMA: University of Alabama in Huntsville — Huntsville, Alabama, is home to large aerospace and defense industries. Top majors: Nursing, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and computer science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $81,000. ALASKA: University of Alaska Anchorage — Top majors: Mechanic and repair technologies, nursing, psychology, business management, and administration. Median earnings four years after graduation: $69,000. ARIZONA: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott — Top majors: Aeronautics, aviation technology, and aerospace engineering. Median
earnings four years after graduation: $94,000. ARKANSAS: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock — Top majors: Medical laboratory technician. nursing. radiation therapy. and dental hygiene. Median earnings four years after graduation: $77,000. CALIFORNIA: California Institute of Technology in Pasadena — Top majors: Computer science, mechanical engineering, and physics. Median earnings four years after graduation: $153,000. COLORADO: Colorado School of Mines in Golden — Top majors: Mechanical engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, and
electrical engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $100,000. CONNECTICUT: Yale University in New Haven — Top majors: Economics. information science. liberal arts and humanities. history. political science and government. and cellular biology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $113,000. DELAWARE: University of Delaware in Newark — Top majors: Finance, research and experimental psychology, marketing, and nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $78,000. FLORIDA: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach — Top majors: Aeronautics
and aviation technology, aerospace engineering, and mechanical engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $94,000. GEORGIA: Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta — Top majors: Information science, mechanical engineering, business, and industrial engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $119,000. HAWAII: University of Hawaii at Manoa — Top majors: Psychology, marketing, nursing, finance, kinesiology, and exercise science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $62,000. IDAHO: Boise State University in Boise — Top majors: Business, liberal
arts and humanities, nursing, communications, health professions, and psychology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $65,000. ILLINOIS: University of Chicago — The University of Chicago has the ninth-highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Economics, computer science, mathematics, and biology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $128,000. INDIANA: University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame — Top majors: Finance. economics. political science and government. information science. mathematics. neuroscience. and neurobiology. Median earnings four years after
graduation: $101,000. IOWA: Allen College in Waterloo — Allen College is a small nursing-focused college in Waterloo, Iowa. Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $74,000. KANSAS: Baker University in Baldwin City — Top majors: Business and nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $70,000. KENTUCKY: Thomas More University in Crestview Hills — Thomas More University is about 10 miles south of Cincinnati across the Ohio River. Top majors: Business, liberal arts and
humanities, nursing, and psychology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $70,000. LOUISIANA: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans — Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $81,000. MAINE: Maine Maritime Academy in Castine — The Maine Maritime Academy (not pictured) is a small public college in Castine, Maine. Top majors: Engineering, marine science, engineering technician, and international business. Median earnings four years after graduation: $113,000. MARYLAND: Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore — Top majors: Information science, cellular biology, public health, neuroscience, and neurobiology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $117,000. MASSACHUSETTS: Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge — MIT has the highest-earning graduates out of all schools in the US. Top majors: Computer science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $162,000. MICHIGAN: Kettering University in Flint — Kettering University is known for its STEM program and has the highest-earning graduates in
Michigan. Top majors: Mechanical engineering and computer science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $100,000. MINNESOTA: University of St. Thomas in St. Paul — The University of St. Thomas (not pictured) has the highest-earning graduates in Minnesota. Top majors: Finance, marketing, and business. Median earnings four years after graduation: $82,000. MISSISSIPPI: Millsaps College in Jackson — Millsaps College is a small liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi. Top majors: Business, biology, accounting, neuroscience, neurobiology, and
psychology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $67,000. MISSOURI: University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis — The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (not pictured) has the highest-earning graduates in Missouri. Top majors: Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Median earnings four years after graduation: $132,000. MONTANA: University of Providence in Great Falls — The University of Providence (not pictured) has the highest-earning graduates in Montana. Top majors: Nursing and medical assistant. Median earnings
four years after graduation: $89,000. NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha — The University of Nebraska Medical Center has the highest-earning graduates in Nebraska. Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $86,000. NEVADA: Touro University Nevada in Henderson — Touro University Nevada (not pictured) in Henderson has the highest-earning graduates in Nevada. Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $122,000. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Dartmouth College in Hanover — Dartmouth College
has some of the highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Economics, political science and government, computer science, engineering, and environmental science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $112,000. NEW JERSEY: Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken — The Stevens Institute of Technology has some of the highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Computer science and mechanical engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $113,000. NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
in Socorro — The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (not pictured) is located in Socorro. New Mexico. Top majors: Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $85,000. NEW YORK: Columbia University in the City of New York — Columbia has some of the highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Computer science, economics, political science and government, research and experimental psychology, and history. Median earnings four years
after graduation: $116,000. NORTH CAROLINA: Duke University in Durham — Duke has some of the highest-earning graduates in the nation. Top majors: Computer science, liberal arts and humanities, nursing, biology, economics, and public policy analysis. Median earnings four years after graduation: $116,000. NORTH DAKOTA: University of North Dakota in Grand Forks — The University of North Dakota has the highest-earning graduates in the state. Top majors: Aeronautics and aviation technology, psychology, medical laboratory technician, and
nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $70,000. OHIO: Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland — Case Western Reserve University has the highest-earning graduates in Ohio. Top majors: Biology, computer science, bioengineering and biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, and psychology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $94,000. OKLAHOMA: University of Tulsa in Tulsa — Graduates from the University of Tulsa earn a median income of $79. 000 four years after graduation. Top majors: Behavioral sciences, biology,
mechanical engineering, kinesiology and exercise science, computer science, and nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $79,000. OREGON: Oregon Health & Science University in Portland — Oregon Health & Science University has the highest-earning graduates in the state. Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $110,000. PENNSYLVANIA: Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh — Carnegie Mellon has the seventh-highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Computer science, electrical engineering, business, statistics, systems science and
theory, and mechanical engineering. Median earnings four years after graduation: $133,000. RHODE ISLAND: Brown University in Providence — Brown graduates earn a median income of $95,000 four years after graduation. Top majors: Computer science, economics, computational and applied mathematics, international relations, and biology. Median earnings four years after graduation: $95,000. SOUTH CAROLINA: Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston — The Medical University of South Carolina is a nursing-focused school. Top majors: Nursing. Median earnings
four years after graduation: $90,000. SOUTH DAKOTA: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City — The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (not pictured) has the highest-earning graduates in the state. Top majors: Engineering and information science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $88,000. TENNESSEE: Vanderbilt University in Nashville — Vanderbilt graduates earn a median income of $101,000 four years after graduation. Top majors: Social science research methods, liberal arts and
humanities, economics, computer science, mathematics, and political science and government. Median earnings four years after graduation: $101,000. TEXAS: University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth — The University of North Texas Health Science Center has some of the highest-earning graduates in the US. Top majors: Health administration, medical and biomedical sciences, osteopathic medicine, and public health. Median earnings four years after graduation: $119,000. UTAH: Western Governors University in Salt Lake City —
Western Governors University is an online university in Salt Lake City. Top majors: Nursing, education, business, computer and information systems security, accounting, and computer science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $87,000. VERMONT: Norwich University in Northfield — Norwich University has the highest-earning graduates in Vermont. Top majors: Intelligence, criminal justice and law enforcement administration, nursing, business, computer and information systems security, and international relations. Median earnings four years after graduation: $76,000. VIRGINIA: Washington and
Lee University in Lexington — Washington and Lee University has the highest-earning graduates in Virginia. Top majors: Business, political science and government, accounting, research and experimental psychology, economics, and history. Median earnings four years after graduation: $101,000. WASHINGTON: City University of Seattle — Graduates from the City University of Seattle have a median income of $84. 000 four years after graduation. Top majors: Business, information science, security science and technology, and liberal arts and humanities.
Median earnings four years after graduation: $84,000. WEST VIRGINIA: University of Charleston — The University of Charleston has the highest-earning graduates in West Virginia. Top majors: Business and nursing. Median earnings four years after graduation: $69,000. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee — The Milwaukee School of Engineering has the highest-earning graduates in Wisconsin. Top majors: Mechanical engineering, nursing, electrical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, bioengineering, and biomedical engineering. Median earnings four years after
graduation: $91,000. WYOMING: University of Wyoming in Laramie — The University of Wyoming has the highest-earning graduates in the state. Top majors: Psychology, nursing, criminal justice and safety studies, elementary education, marketing, and kinesiology and exercise science. Median earnings four years after graduation: $62,000.
The standout lesson in the data isn’t only which campus sits atop each state. It’s that the “best” choice—at least by median earnings four years after graduation for former federal-aid recipients—can depend on what a school is designed to do. and what kinds of majors feed its strongest outcomes. One map may help families compare across state lines. but it can’t turn a single earnings number into a complete career forecast.
MISRYOUM
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