These Are The Colleges With The Highest Earning Graduates In Each State

Colleges with the Highest Earning Graduates in Each State (2026)

Best Colleges for Graduates with High Salaries in Each State

Click to enlarge

For today’s college freshmen, selecting the right institution is crucial not only for gaining admission but also for securing a lucrative career post-graduation. In 2026, the financial implications of this choice have never been more significant. A recent survey indicates that 82% of incoming students prioritize the financial success of alumni as a key factor in their college selection, emphasizing the importance of a college’s reputation for producing high-earning graduates.

At Zippia, we’ve compiled a list of top colleges across the United States based on the typical earnings of their graduates, reflecting both recent alumni and those established in their careers.

Here’s a snapshot of the top colleges for 2026:

Harvard — Massachusetts
Stanford — California
University of Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — New York
Duke — North Carolina
Princeton — New Jersey
Yale — Connecticut
Dartmouth — New Hampshire
University of Chicago — Illinois
Maine Maritime Academy — Maine

How We Determined the Top Paid Graduates

Our analysis utilized data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to identify the college in each state offering the highest average earnings for graduates. We focused on median income data six and ten years after graduation to provide a realistic overview of financial outcomes for alumni, especially in light of the increasing student loan debt many face shortly after leaving college.

We averaged the median incomes at both six and ten years post-graduation to rank each state’s top institution. While institutions like Harvard consistently rank at the top, the list reveals some surprising contenders worthy of attention from prospective students.

It’s important to note that only colleges ranking first in their state make our list. For instance, although MIT ranks high nationally, it doesn’t appear for Massachusetts because it is second in the state.

1. Massachusetts

College: Harvard
City: Cambridge
Average Earnings: $118,400
Harvard University remains the pinnacle of educational prestige, not only in Massachusetts but across the nation, solidifying its reputation as the institution with the highest-paid graduates.

2. California

College: Stanford
City: Stanford
Average Earnings: $112,850
Stanford, known for its entrepreneurial spirit, boasts a significant number of millionaire alumni and is situated on one of the largest campuses in the world.

3. Pennsylvania

College: University of Pennsylvania
City: Philadelphia
Average Earnings: $102,850
Often dubbed “the only Ivy League that doesn’t sound like an Ivy League,” Penn is distinctively recognized for its leadership in business education.

4. New York

College: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
City: Albany
Average Earnings: $101,150
This specialized institution excels in producing graduates for health professions, offering a robust six-year pharmacy program.

5. North Carolina

College: Duke
City: Durham
Average Earnings: $97,600
Duke University not only provides a premier education but also offers unique experiences for sports enthusiasts, especially basketball fans.

6. New Jersey

College: Princeton
City: Princeton
Average Earnings: $92,300
With a prestigious education, Princeton graduates often enjoy significant financial success, maintaining strong connections with their alma mater.

7. Connecticut

College: Yale
City: New Haven
Average Earnings: $85,850
Yale, alongside other Ivy League schools, cultivates a network of successful alumni across diverse fields.

8. New Hampshire

College: Dartmouth
City: Hanover
Average Earnings: $85,100
Dartmouth’s unique culture and strong emphasis on community engagement set it apart in the Ivy League landscape.

9. Illinois

College: University of Chicago
City: Chicago
Average Earnings: $82,800
Renowned for its rigorous academics, the University of Chicago employs a distinctive House system, fostering a tight-knit community among students.

10. Maine

College: Maine Maritime Academy
City: Castine
Average Earnings: $79,550
This specialized academy prepares students primarily for engineering and marine sciences, ensuring a practical and rewarding education.

A Quick Rundown on Pay Rates and Job Placement Ratings

While no college can guarantee job placement or financial success, many institutions pride themselves on high employment rates. However, prospective students should critically evaluate reported statistics, as discrepancies can exist. As highlighted in various reports, some universities may misrepresent their job placement rates, leading to confusion for applicants.

To navigate these complexities, independent resources and verifiable data are essential. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) provides impartial data to inform educational policies, allowing students to make informed decisions regarding their future.

College	Location	Average Earnings	10 Year Median Earnings	6 Year Median Earnings
Harvard University	Cambridge, MA	118,400	130,500	106,300
Stanford University	Stanford, CA	112,850	123,400	102,300
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	102,850	113,400	92,300
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences	Albany, NY	101,150	101,200	101,100
Duke University	Durham, NC	97,600	107,600	87,600
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	92,300	113,000	71,600
Yale University	New Haven, CT	85,850	95,300	76,400
Dartmouth College	Hanover, NH	85,100	99,700	70,500
University of Chicago	Chicago, IL	82,800	95,800	69,800
Maine Maritime Academy	Castine, ME	79,550	81,300	77,800
University of Notre Dame	South Bend, IN	78,300	88,000	68,600
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, VA	75,950	89,600	62,300
Colorado School of Mines	Golden, CO	74,250	82,300	66,200
Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, MD	74,000	84,700	63,300
Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland, OH	71,600	77,400	65,800
Rice University	Houston, TX	70,700	81,300	60,100
Washington University in St Louis	Saint Louis, MO	70,200	80,700	59,700
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Atlanta, GA	69,250	78,800	59,700
Kettering University	Flint, MI	68,250	73,900	62,600
Brown University	Providence, RI	67,900	81,400	54,400
Vanderbilt University	Nashville, TN	67,800	77,000	58,600
Middlebury College	Middlebury, VT	65,850	81,100	50,600
Tulane University of Louisiana	New Orleans, LA	60,150	67,300	53,000
Drake University	Des Moines, IA	58,600	68,200	49,000
Milwaukee School of Engineering	Milwaukee, WI	58,500	65,100	51,900
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott	Prescott, AZ	57,800	65,500	50,100
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	Daytona Beach, FL	57,800	65,500	50,100
Creighton University	Omaha, NE	57,800	67,500	48,100
University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Seattle, WA	54,700	61,300	48,100
Saint Johns University	Collegeville, MN	54,400	66,200	42,600
Brigham Young University-Provo	Provo, UT	54,400	66,700	42,100
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	Rapid City, SD	52,900	57,000	48,800
University of Portland	Portland, OR	51,700	54,900	48,500
University of Delaware	Newark, DE	51,550	59,000	44,100
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	Norman, OK	51,550	58,000	45,100
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	Socorro, NM	50,150	58,100	42,200
Thomas More College	Crestview Hills, KY	49,650	53,500	45,800
Samford University	Birmingham, AL	49,450	57,900	41,000
John Brown University	Siloam Springs, AR	49,450	56,400	42,500
Baker University	Baldwin City, KS	49,250	53,300	45,200
University of North Dakota	Grand Forks, ND	49,100	56,500	41,700
Clemson University	Clemson, SC	48,950	55,400	42,500
University of Mississippi	Oxford, MS	47,150	52,700	41,600
Hawaii Pacific University	Honolulu, HI	47,000	50,100	43,900
Montana Tech of the University of Montana	Butte, MT	46,800	51,600	42,000
University of Nevada-Reno	Reno, NV	46,000	52,200	39,800
University of Wyoming	Laramie, WY	45,500	50,800	40,200
Alaska Pacific University	Anchorage, AK	44,600	49,300	39,900
West Virginia University Institute of Technology	Montgomery, WV	43,750	50,400	37,100
University of Idaho	Moscow, ID	39,750	45,600	33,900

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

David Luther

David Luther was the Content Marketing Editor for the Zippia Advice blog. He developed partnerships with external reporting agencies in addition to generating original research and reporting for the Zippia Career Advice blog. David obtained his BA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Create Resume