The college search can be difficult.
As a result, you are left with a list of questions to help narrow down your school options.
How much does the school cost? Do class sizes matter, or can you get a quality education no matter the class size? Is the campus walkable, or do you need a vehicle to get around?
While the answers to these questions are valuable, one of the most important questions you can ask a college is whether its graduates have a high success rate.
How well a school prepares students for work is shown by the kinds of jobs they get and how much they get paid after graduating.
This may not be an easy subject to bring up during a campus tour; therefore, you should conduct research before your visit.
The Center on Education and the Workforce recently published its 2022 Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities, revealing which U.S. colleges and universities produce the highest-paid graduates.
Small colleges with under 1,000 undergraduate students to expansive research universities resembling small cities are among the institutions with the highest graduate earnings.
Offering competitive education in fields like STEM and pharmacy, or having extensive internship and co-op work programs that enable students to get professional experience more rapidly, are just a few of the ways private colleges whose graduates go on the earn the most accomplish this.
The rankings are based on the return on investment data from 4,500 colleges and universities.
Based on graduates’ median 10-year earnings, the following are the top 25 colleges whose graduates earn the most among non-profit colleges and universities, according to our analysis of data from the Center on Education and the Workforce.
25 Private Colleges Whose Graduates Go on to Earn the Most
1. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $124,700
- 40-yr NPV: $2,722,000
The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) is a private, nonprofit college in Albany, New York. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and is known for its rigorous pharmacy education program.
ACPHS offers several degree programs in pharmacy, healthcare, and the life sciences. The college is known for its Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program, which prepares students to become successful pharmacists and healthcare leaders. ACPHS offers several master’s and doctoral programs in pharmacy and related fields.
In addition to its academic programs, ACPHS is known for its research efforts in pharmacy, healthcare, and the life sciences. The college has several research centers and institutes focused on drug discovery and development, pharmacogenomics, and healthcare policy.
ACPHS is also known for its commitment to community service and outreach. The college partners with several organizations and agencies in the Albany area to provide healthcare services and education to underserved populations.
Overall, ACPHS is a highly respected institution in pharmacy education and is known for its commitment to preparing students to be leaders in the profession.
*Net Present Value (NPV): How much a sum of money in the future is worth now is called the net present value. This metric looks at costs, returns, and the time it takes to invest and earn a certain amount over a set period of time.
2. St Louis College of Pharmacy
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $124,000
- 40-yr NPV: $2,714,000
St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) is a private, nonprofit pharmacy school in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the oldest continuously operating college of pharmacy west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
STLCOP is known for its rigorous pharmacy education program, which prepares students to become successful pharmacists and healthcare leaders. The college offers a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program and a number of master’s and doctoral programs in pharmacy and related fields.
STLCOP is also known for its research efforts in pharmacy and healthcare. The college has several research centers and institutes focused on medication safety, pharmacogenomics, and drug discovery and development.
In addition to its academic and research programs, STLCOP is known for its commitment to community service and outreach. The college partners with several organizations and agencies in the St. Louis area to provide healthcare services and education to underserved populations.
Overall, STLCOP is a highly respected institution in pharmacy education and is known for its commitment to preparing students to be leaders in the profession.
3. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $116,000
- 40-yr NPV: $2,421,000
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is a private, nonprofit institution in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). ACPE is the national accrediting body for pharmacy education in the United States and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
MCPHS’s accreditation by ACPE reflects the college’s commitment to meeting the highest standards for pharmacy education. Accreditation ensures that MCPHS’s programs meet the quality standards established by ACPE and are consistently reviewed and evaluated to ensure that they continue to meet these standards.
MCPHS’s accreditation also allows its students to sit for the licensure examination in the state where they plan to practice. It also allows the college’s graduates to be eligible for advanced practice residencies and postgraduate training programs.
MCPHS is also known for its commitment to community service and outreach. The college partners with several organizations and agencies in the Boston area to provide healthcare services and education to underserved populations
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $104,700
- 40-yr NPV: $2,273,000
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of the top-ranked universities in the world and is known for its strong science, engineering, and technology programs.
MIT is known for its rigorous academic programs and commitment to research and innovation. The university has several research centers and institutes focused on various fields, including artificial intelligence, computer science, energy and the environment, and biotechnology. MIT is also home to several world-renowned research labs, such as the Media Lab, the Artificial Intelligence Lab, and the Energy Initiative.
MIT is known for its strong commitment to experiential learning and hands-on problem-solving. The university has several programs and resources to help students get involved in research and other experiential learning opportunities, including internships, co-ops, and study abroad programs.
MIT is known for its outstanding academic programs, innovative research, and commitment to experiential learning. Its graduates are highly sought after by employers and achieve success in various fields.
MIT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). NECHE is a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
MIT’s accreditation also allows its students to be eligible for federal financial aid programs and the university’s graduates to be eligible for advanced degree programs at other accredited institutions.
Overall, MIT’s accreditation by NECHE is an essential indicator of its academic programs’ quality and commitment to meeting the highest standards in higher education.
5. Babson College
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $96,100
- 40-yr NPV: $1,985,000
Babson College is a private, nonprofit institution located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It is known for its strong programs in business and entrepreneurship.
Babson College is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the United States, and it is known for its rigorous academic programs and focus on experiential learning. The college’s business programs are designed to teach students the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in various business roles, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship.
Babson College is known for its strong commitment to research and innovation. Babson College is also home to several entrepreneurial incubator programs and resources to help students turn their ideas into successful businesses.
There are several reasons why students might choose Babson College:
- Strong academic programs: Babson College is known for its strong programs in business and entrepreneurship, and its business programs are consistently ranked among the top in the United States. The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a highly regarded MBA program.
- Experiential learning: Babson College strongly emphasizes experiential learning and hands-on problem-solving. The college has several programs and resources to help students get involved in internships, co-ops, and other experiential learning opportunities.
- Research and innovation: Babson College is known for its strong commitment to research and innovation, and it has several research centers and institutes focused on areas such as entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation management.
- Entrepreneurial resources: Babson College is home to a number of entrepreneurial incubators programs and resources to help students turn their ideas into successful businesses. These resources include the Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, which provides support and resources for student entrepreneurs.
- Location: Babson College is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. The college is close to several major businesses and organizations, providing students with internships and job placement opportunities.
Overall, students who choose Babson College can expect to receive a high-quality education in business and entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and innovation.
6. Stanford University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $94,000
- 40-yr NPV: $2,068,000
7. Georgetown University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $93,500
- 40-yr NPV: $1,950,000
8. University of the Sciences
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $91,600
- 40-yr NPV: $1,928,000
9. Harvard University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $89,700
- 40-yr NPV: $1,967,000
10. Stevens Institute of Technology
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $89,200
- 40-yr NPV: $1,833,000
11. Harvey Mudd College
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $88,800
- 40-yr NPV: $1,851,000
12. Bentley University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $86,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,786,000
13. California Institute of Technology
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $85,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,810,000
14. University of Pennsylvania
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $85,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,832,000
15. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $84,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,725,000
16. Duke University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $84,400
- 40-yr NPV: $1,754,000
17. Carnegie Mellon University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $83,600
- 40-yr NPV: $1,750,000
18. Columbia University in the City of New York
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $83,300
- 40-yr NPV: $1,769,000
19. Yale University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $83,200
- 40-yr NPV: $1,777,000
20. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $82,000
- 40-yr NPV: $1,687,000
21. Lehigh University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $81,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,688,000
22. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $80,900
- 40-yr NPV: $1,665,000
23. Kettering University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $80,500
- 40-yr NPV: $1,662,000
24. University of Notre Dame
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $78,400
- 40-yr NPV: $1,626,000
25. Villanova University
For alumni with a bachelor’s degree from this school
- Median 10-yr Earnings: $41,858
- 40-yr NPV: $1,563,000
40-yr NPV of institutions is calculated using data on the average net price and salary/earnings from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. An institution is not listed in the table below if either is missing. The earnings data from the College Scorecard includes only students who received federal financial aid at the time of enrollment.
