US CollegesThe 100 four-year colleges with the highest earnings
Four-year colleges with at least 500 undergraduates, ranked by the median earnings of former students ten years after they started. The figure counts students who received federal aid and are working.
No college in this list matches.
| No. | College | Median earnings | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA · Private nonprofit | $166,642 | 2.6% | $8,509 | 90% |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit | $164,248 | 13% | $39,347 | 93% |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA · Private nonprofit | $152,553 | 4.5% | $14,815 | 96% |
| 4 | Samuel Merritt UniversityOakland, CA · Private nonprofit | $151,150 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 5 | Babson CollegeWellesley, MA · Private nonprofit | $138,950 | 17% | $34,096 | 92% |
| 6 | Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ · Private nonprofit | $133,523 | 4.6% | $7,815 | 97% |
| 7 | Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA · Private nonprofit | $127,532 | 9.6% | $26,039 | 90% |
| 8 | Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA · Private nonprofit | $126,427 | 45% | $38,969 | 88% |
| 9 | Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · Private nonprofit | $125,340 | 3.6% | $12,307 | 92% |
| 10 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit | $125,257 | 12% | $35,780 | 94% |
| 11 | Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · Private nonprofit | $121,957 | 3.6% | $19,148 | 97% |
| 12 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | $121,687 | 5.4% | $29,577 | 97% |
| 13 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ · Private nonprofit | $118,358 | 48% | $37,396 | 89% |
| 14 | Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT · Private nonprofit | $118,356 | 3.9% | $11,340 | 96% |
| 15 | Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · Private nonprofit | $117,193 | 48% | $36,116 | 87% |
| 16 | Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit | $116,342 | 26% | $25,272 | 85% |
| 17 | Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA · Private nonprofit | $115,382 | 27% | $41,536 | 93% |
| 18 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Public | $114,210 | 14% | $12,028 | 94% |
| 19 | Duke UniversityDurham, NC · Private nonprofit | $113,937 | 5.7% | $23,706 | 96% |
| 20 | Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private nonprofit | $113,531 | 8.8% | $33,934 | 95% |
| 21 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit | $113,513 | 60% | $43,885 | 90% |
| 22 | University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit | $113,124 | 11% | $25,339 | 95% |
| 23 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · Private nonprofit | $113,011 | 63% | $32,758 | 80% |
| 24 | Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit | $112,178 | 16% | $38,930 | 90% |
| 25 | Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · Private nonprofit | $111,162 | 5.4% | $26,707 | 95% |
| 26 | Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofit | $110,516 | 13% | $33,661 | 94% |
| 27 | Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · Private nonprofit | $109,954 | 29% | $50,021 | 85% |
| 28 | Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortland, OR · Public | $109,788 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 29 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | $109,430 | 4.0% | $15,370 | 95% |
| 30 | Roseman University of Health SciencesHenderson, NV · Private nonprofit | $108,902 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 31 | Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, IN · Private nonprofit | $107,683 | 77% | $43,360 | 74% |
| 32 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo, CA · Public | $105,475 | 95% | $17,793 | 58% |
| 33 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofit | $104,590 | 6.4% | $18,431 | 93% |
| 34 | Bryant UniversitySmithfield, RI · Private nonprofit | $104,456 | 65% | $39,186 | 81% |
| 35 | Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | $104,443 | 22% | $28,165 | 90% |
| 36 | West Coast University-TexasRichardson, TX · Private for-profit | $104,344 | not reported | $52,439 | 0% |
| 37 | West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim, CA · Private for-profit | $104,344 | not reported | $36,240 | 25% |
| 38 | West Coast University-OntarioOntario, CA · Private for-profit | $104,344 | not reported | $47,072 | 56% |
| 39 | West Coast University-MiamiDoral, FL · Private for-profit | $104,344 | not reported | $37,774 | 25% |
| 40 | Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Private nonprofit | $104,255 | 7.7% | $34,420 | 96% |
| 41 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay, MA · Public | $104,098 | 95% | $23,759 | 73% |
| 42 | University of ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | $103,872 | 4.5% | $16,776 | 95% |
| 43 | University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | $103,420 | 9.8% | $33,056 | 90% |
| 44 | United States Merchant Marine AcademyKings Point, NY · Public | $103,283 | 34% | $1,516 | 78% |
| 45 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBoston, MA · Private nonprofit | $103,156 | 85% | $43,891 | 61% |
| 46 | Trinity CollegeHartford, CT · Private nonprofit | $103,089 | 29% | $37,004 | 83% |
| 47 | Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · Private nonprofit | $102,966 | 14% | $25,279 | 96% |
| 48 | Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · Private nonprofit | $102,336 | 31% | $35,879 | 85% |
| 49 | Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · Public | $102,077 | 61% | $32,901 | 82% |
| 50 | Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CT · Private nonprofit | $101,587 | 33% | $49,906 | 85% |
| 51 | Maine Maritime AcademyCastine, ME · Public | $101,511 | 54% | $21,078 | 58% |
| 52 | SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY · Public | $100,966 | 72% | $22,888 | 54% |
| 53 | College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit | $100,485 | 18% | $38,829 | 86% |
| 54 | University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · Public | $100,212 | 11% | $14,538 | 94% |
| 55 | Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Private nonprofit | $99,974 | 5.4% | $26,976 | 96% |
| 56 | Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA · Private nonprofit | $99,540 | not reported | $25,018 | not reported |
| 57 | Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · Private nonprofit | $99,371 | 5.2% | $17,850 | 91% |
| 58 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, MA · Private nonprofit | $99,371 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 59 | Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · Private nonprofit | $99,080 | 5.9% | $15,497 | 93% |
| 60 | The University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonGalveston, TX · Public | $98,687 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 61 | Bates CollegeLewiston, ME · Private nonprofit | $98,373 | 13% | $27,390 | 88% |
| 62 | Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | $98,280 | 8.8% | $28,930 | 92% |
| 63 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbock, TX · Public | $97,667 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 64 | Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, IL · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 83% | $38,263 | 35% |
| 65 | Chamberlain University-ArizonaPhoenix, AZ · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 91% | $41,882 | 40% |
| 66 | Chamberlain University-FloridaJacksonville, FL · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 91% | $37,672 | 0% |
| 67 | Chamberlain University-VirginiaVienna, VA · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 90% | $44,710 | 0% |
| 68 | Chamberlain University-TexasHouston, TX · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 84% | $39,545 | 40% |
| 69 | Chamberlain University-GeorgiaSandy Springs, GA · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 91% | $38,666 | 50% |
| 70 | Chamberlain University-NevadaLas Vegas, NV · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 76% | $41,032 | 25% |
| 71 | Chamberlain University-MichiganTroy, MI · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 86% | not reported | not reported |
| 72 | Chamberlain University-New JerseyNorth Brunswick, NJ · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 100% | $42,922 | 60% |
| 73 | Chamberlain University-CaliforniaRancho Cordova, CA · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 80% | $46,658 | not reported |
| 74 | Chamberlain University-LouisianaJefferson, LA · Private for-profit | $96,897 | 100% | $36,976 | 0% |
| 75 | George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofit | $96,691 | 47% | $35,760 | 83% |
| 76 | University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA · Public | $96,468 | 17% | $18,056 | 94% |
| 77 | Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY · Private nonprofit | $96,328 | 14% | $29,409 | 89% |
| 78 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · Public | $96,304 | 31% | $18,832 | 87% |
| 79 | University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public | $96,197 | 27% | $14,794 | 86% |
| 80 | Kettering UniversityFlint, MI · Private nonprofit | $96,136 | 79% | $29,797 | 74% |
| 81 | University of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · Public | $96,035 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| 82 | Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · Private nonprofit | $95,954 | 8.2% | $15,157 | 95% |
| 83 | Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · Private nonprofit | $95,269 | 44% | $28,128 | 81% |
| 84 | Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Private nonprofit | $95,161 | 9.0% | $19,536 | 93% |
| 85 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA · Private nonprofit | $94,995 | 91% | $30,134 | 63% |
| 86 | University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit | $94,613 | 62% | $30,496 | 66% |
| 87 | Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · Private nonprofit | $93,897 | 11% | $16,754 | 91% |
| 88 | University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit | $93,069 | 52% | $29,539 | 81% |
| 89 | Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NY · Private nonprofit | $92,904 | 79% | $25,074 | 68% |
| 90 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Public | $92,832 | 16% | $14,362 | 93% |
| 91 | Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Private nonprofit | $92,809 | 59% | $42,760 | 81% |
| 92 | Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $92,761 | 59% | $27,027 | 63% |
| 93 | Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY · Private nonprofit | $92,494 | 77% | $32,137 | 72% |
| 94 | University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit | $92,362 | 22% | $34,256 | 87% |
| 95 | Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | $92,338 | 79% | $37,529 | 78% |
| 96 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott, AZ · Private nonprofit | $92,069 | 77% | $38,102 | 69% |
| 97 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit | $92,069 | 65% | $40,539 | 68% |
| 98 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideDaytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit | $92,069 | 58% | $19,741 | 31% |
| 99 | Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $91,497 | 12% | $13,360 | 93% |
| 100 | New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | $90,957 | 9.2% | $35,737 | 88% |
Reading this list
- Earnings depend heavily on what a college teaches. Colleges focused on engineering, pharmacy, nursing or maritime work rank high because of their subjects.
- Only students who received federal aid are counted, and only those who are working and not studying.
- The figure is a median for everyone who started, whether or not they finished the degree.
What the list is made of
The 100 colleges are in 27 states and territories; the most are in California (17), Massachusetts (14), New York (12) and Pennsylvania (7). By type, 16 public, 69 private nonprofit and 15 private for-profit. Median earnings on the list run from $166,642 down to $90,957; the median for all colleges is $53,132.
What else the figures show
High earnings do not belong only to colleges that are hard to enter: 33 of the 100 admit at least half of their applicants. The median admission rate on the list is 28%. The median net price is $30,315 a year (all colleges: $17,357). The median graduation rate is 87%.
Using the list
The filter above the table narrows the list by name, city or type of college. Open a college to see its costs by family income, its results next to the state and national medians, and other colleges of a similar size in the same state. A place on a list like this is a starting point for questions, not a verdict on a college: each column counts a particular group of students, explained in how to read the figures.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.