United States · Predominantly bachelor's institutions
Ranking WIDER
Earnings after entry. Earnings relative to cost.
- Institutions
- 1,183
- Median earnings, 10 years
- $56,343
- Median return
- 1.44×
U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard, Most Recent Cohorts (Institution) · File published: May 26, 2026 · Verified: Aug 19, 2026
| # | Institution | Earnings, 10 years | Annual cost | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit | $143,372 | $82,730 | 1.73× |
| 2 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBoston, MAPrivate nonprofit | $125,557 | $65,022 | 1.93× |
| 3 | Stanford UniversityStanford, CAPrivate nonprofit | $124,080 | $87,833 | 1.41× |
| 4 | Babson CollegeWellesley, MAPrivate nonprofit | $123,938 | $80,192 | 1.55× |
| 5 | Bentley UniversityWaltham, MAPrivate nonprofit | $120,959 | $79,548 | 1.52× |
| 6 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PAPrivate nonprofit | $114,862 | $83,654 | 1.37× |
| 7 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit | $111,371 | $89,028 | 1.25× |
| 8 | Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJPrivate nonprofit | $110,066 | $84,040 | 1.31× |
| 9 | Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CAPrivate nonprofit | $109,183 | $82,026 | 1.33× |
| 10 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJPrivate nonprofit | $108,772 | $79,790 | 1.36× |
| 11 | Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PAPrivate nonprofit | $105,584 | $80,856 | 1.31× |
| 12 | Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CAPrivate nonprofit | $104,736 | $86,500 | 1.21× |
| 13 | Cornell UniversityIthaca, NYPrivate nonprofit | $104,043 | $88,140 | 1.18× |
| 14 | Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit | $103,937 | $89,493 | 1.16× |
| 15 | Georgetown UniversityWashington, DCPrivate nonprofit | $103,494 | $88,741 | 1.17× |
| 16 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MAPrivate nonprofit | $103,470 | $78,679 | 1.32× |
| 17 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GAPublic | $102,772 | $28,167 | 3.65× |
| 18 | West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim, CAPrivate for-profit | $102,672 | $34,887 | 2.94× |
| 19 | West Coast University-OntarioOntario, CAPrivate for-profit | $102,672 | $53,706 | 1.91× |
| 20 | West Coast University-TexasRichardson, TXPrivate for-profit | $102,672 | $55,938 | 1.84× |
| 21 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NYPrivate nonprofit | $102,491 | $89,472 | 1.15× |
| 22 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NYPrivate nonprofit | $102,051 | $82,404 | 1.24× |
| 23 | Harvard UniversityCambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit | $101,817 | $85,540 | 1.19× |
| 24 | Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, INPrivate nonprofit | $101,253 | $77,890 | 1.30× |
| 25 | Yale UniversityNew Haven, CTPrivate nonprofit | $100,533 | $88,300 | 1.14× |
| 26 | Villanova UniversityVillanova, PAPrivate nonprofit | $100,423 | $84,793 | 1.18× |
| 27 | University of Notre DameNotre Dame, INPrivate nonprofit | $99,980 | $83,271 | 1.20× |
| 28 | Duke UniversityDurham, NCPrivate nonprofit | $97,800 | $87,072 | 1.12× |
| 29 | Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NHPrivate nonprofit | $97,434 | $87,793 | 1.11× |
| 30 | Colorado School of MinesGolden, COPublic | $97,335 | $40,560 | 2.40× |
| 31 | SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NYPublic | $95,951 | $29,786 | 3.22× |
| 32 | Kettering UniversityFlint, MIPrivate nonprofit | $94,823 | $61,250 | 1.55× |
| 33 | Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VAPrivate nonprofit | $94,810 | $87,000 | 1.09× |
| 34 | Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PAPrivate nonprofit | $93,807 | $83,756 | 1.12× |
| 35 | Brown UniversityProvidence, RIPrivate nonprofit | $93,487 | $87,648 | 1.07× |
| 36 | Northeastern UniversityBoston, MAPrivate nonprofit | $92,538 | $84,641 | 1.09× |
| 37 | University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit | $92,498 | $90,300 | 1.02× |
| 38 | University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CAPublic | $92,446 | $45,619 | 2.03× |
| 39 | Chamberlain University-GeorgiaSandy Springs, GAPrivate for-profit | $92,405 | $38,272 | 2.41× |
| 40 | Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, ILPrivate for-profit | $92,405 | $40,826 | 2.26× |
| 41 | Chamberlain University-New JerseyNorth Brunswick, NJPrivate for-profit | $92,405 | $38,904 | 2.38× |
| 42 | Chamberlain University-TexasHouston, TXPrivate for-profit | $92,405 | $38,480 | 2.40× |
| 43 | University of ChicagoChicago, ILPrivate nonprofit | $91,885 | $90,360 | 1.02× |
| 44 | Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TNPrivate nonprofit | $91,565 | $89,590 | 1.02× |
| 45 | Lafayette CollegeEaston, PAPrivate nonprofit | $91,410 | $83,133 | 1.10× |
| 46 | George Washington UniversityWashington, DCPrivate nonprofit | $90,873 | $83,856 | 1.08× |
| 47 | Trinity CollegeHartford, CTPrivate nonprofit | $90,779 | $87,840 | 1.03× |
| 48 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CAPublic | $90,768 | $32,265 | 2.81× |
| 49 | College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MAPrivate nonprofit | $90,543 | $80,334 | 1.13× |
| 50 | Bryant UniversitySmithfield, RIPrivate nonprofit | $90,008 | $69,964 | 1.29× |
| 51 | University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CAPrivate nonprofit | $89,812 | $80,141 | 1.12× |
| 52 | Rice UniversityHouston, TXPrivate nonprofit | $89,718 | $79,788 | 1.12× |
| 53 | Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NYPrivate nonprofit | $89,696 | $79,022 | 1.14× |
| 54 | Northwestern UniversityEvanston, ILPrivate nonprofit | $89,363 | $91,250 | 0.98× |
| 55 | Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WIPrivate nonprofit | $89,070 | $62,648 | 1.42× |
| 56 | Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CTPrivate nonprofit | $88,794 | $76,074 | 1.17× |
| 57 | Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MAPrivate nonprofit | $88,665 | $84,860 | 1.04× |
| 58 | Union CollegeSchenectady, NYPrivate nonprofit | $88,604 | $84,561 | 1.05× |
| 59 | Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OHPrivate nonprofit | $87,989 | $85,851 | 1.02× |
| 60 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MDPrivate nonprofit | $87,555 | $85,947 | 1.02× |
| 61 | Providence CollegeProvidence, RIPrivate nonprofit | $87,054 | $80,466 | 1.08× |
| 62 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit | $86,881 | $67,954 | 1.28× |
| 63 | University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VAPublic | $86,863 | $39,926 | 2.18× |
| 64 | University of San DiegoSan Diego, CAPrivate nonprofit | $86,522 | $78,720 | 1.10× |
| 65 | Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NYPrivate nonprofit | $86,316 | $64,348 | 1.34× |
| 66 | Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MOPrivate nonprofit | $86,182 | $88,488 | 0.97× |
| 67 | Fordham UniversityBronx, NYPrivate nonprofit | $85,569 | $82,762 | 1.03× |
| 68 | Colgate UniversityHamilton, NYPrivate nonprofit | $85,139 | $87,070 | 0.98× |
| 69 | University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CAPublic | $84,943 | $38,701 | 2.19× |
| 70 | Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MAPrivate nonprofit | $84,803 | $86,290 | 0.98× |
| 71 | Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CAPrivate nonprofit | $84,713 | $71,751 | 1.18× |
| 72 | Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit | $84,648 | $76,835 | 1.10× |
| 73 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJPublic | $84,276 | $32,859 | 2.56× |
| 74 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FLPrivate nonprofit | $84,131 | $64,632 | 1.30× |
| 75 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott, AZPrivate nonprofit | $84,131 | $62,798 | 1.34× |
| 76 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideDaytona Beach, FLPrivate nonprofit | $84,131 | $24,878 | 3.38× |
| 77 | Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CTPrivate nonprofit | $83,759 | $72,215 | 1.16× |
| 78 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MIPublic | $83,648 | $34,654 | 2.41× |
| 79 | Boston UniversityBoston, MAPrivate nonprofit | $83,238 | $86,285 | 0.96× |
| 80 | Tufts UniversityMedford, MAPrivate nonprofit | $83,214 | $88,300 | 0.94× |
| 81 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MOPublic | $82,957 | $29,231 | 2.84× |
| 82 | Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CAPrivate nonprofit | $82,939 | $93,512 | 0.89× |
| 83 | University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MDPublic | $82,860 | $29,299 | 2.83× |
| 84 | University of PortlandPortland, ORPrivate nonprofit | $82,804 | $73,224 | 1.13× |
| 85 | Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, MEPrivate nonprofit | $82,735 | $85,100 | 0.97× |
| 86 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MAPrivate nonprofit | $82,721 | $61,096 | 1.35× |
| 87 | Loyola University MarylandBaltimore, MDPrivate nonprofit | $82,652 | $74,055 | 1.12× |
| 88 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, ILPrivate nonprofit | $82,592 | $68,164 | 1.21× |
| 89 | University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAPublic | $82,511 | $38,614 | 2.14× |
| 90 | New York UniversityNew York, NYPrivate nonprofit | $82,509 | $84,374 | 0.98× |
| 91 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay, MAPublic | $82,392 | $31,367 | 2.63× |
| 92 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VAPublic | $81,698 | $36,951 | 2.21× |
| 93 | Davidson CollegeDavidson, NCPrivate nonprofit | $81,400 | $79,475 | 1.02× |
| 94 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, ILPublic | $81,054 | $33,642 | 2.41× |
| 95 | Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OHPrivate nonprofit | $80,928 | $53,580 | 1.51× |
| 96 | University of California-DavisDavis, CAPublic | $80,838 | $41,238 | 1.96× |
| 97 | University of California-IrvineIrvine, CAPublic | $80,735 | $38,632 | 2.09× |
| 98 | Binghamton UniversityVestal, NYPublic | $80,596 | $30,345 | 2.66× |
| 99 | Barnard CollegeNew York, NYPrivate nonprofit | $80,516 | $89,538 | 0.90× |
| 100 | Colby CollegeWaterville, MEPrivate nonprofit | $80,490 | $85,420 | 0.94× |
How we calculate it
Earnings = earnings_10y_usd (MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Return = earnings_10y_usd ÷ cost_year_usd (COSTT4_A). The denominator is annual sticker cost, not the total degree cost. The ratio is not a financial rate of return.
Includes predominantly bachelor's institutions (predominant_award_code = 3) with positive earnings and annual cost. Ties are ordered by name. Filtering recalculates the population, medians and positions.
Institution-wide median ten years after entry among students who entered the institution; the population includes people who did not complete.
It describes an institutional cohort and its mix of programs and students. It is not an individual's expected earnings, a specific program outcome, a quality measure, or a causal effect of the institution.
Current coverage is only the United States, using College Scorecard data from the US Department of Education. We do not use net price: it represents students receiving US federal aid, not the general cost for an international student. Payments, sponsorships and partnerships do not affect positions.
WIDER methodology · How we make money