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Colleges Where Graduates Earn Over $100K Within 6 Years
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GradeToGrad Editorial Team
March 25, 2026
Caltech ($132K), MIT ($131K), Harvey Mudd ($115K) — the highest-earning colleges. Not all are expensive.
The Highest-Earning Colleges
Based on actual federal earnings data, not self-reported surveys.
Top 15 by Median Earnings (6 Years After Enrollment)
| Rank | School | State | Earnings | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samuel Merritt University | CA | $143,353 | N/A |
| 2 | Caltech | CA | $132,140 | $63,255 |
| 3 | MIT | MA | $131,633 | $60,156 |
| 4 | U of Health Sciences STL | MO | $116,360 | $31,920 |
| 5 | Harvey Mudd College | CA | $115,107 | $66,255 |
| 6 | Albany College of Pharmacy | NY | $112,685 | $40,375 |
| 7 | American U of Health Sciences | CA | $111,064 | $24,575 |
| 8 | SUNY Downstate Health | NY | $110,661 | N/A |
| 9 | LA County College of Nursing | CA | $106,781 | N/A |
| 10 | Olin College of Engineering | MA | $105,483 | $64,458 |
| 11 | Carnegie Mellon | PA | $105,360 | $63,829 |
| 12 | Stanford | CA | $102,887 | $62,484 |
| 13 | Helene Fuld College of Nursing | NY | $101,039 | $24,648 |
| 14 | OHSU | OR | $99,818 | N/A |
| 15 | Harvard | MA | $99,572 | $59,076 |
What the Data Reveals
Health sciences schools dominate. 5 of the top 15 are health-focused institutions.
You do not need Ivy League prices. U of Health Sciences STL ($31,920) and American U of Health Sciences ($24,575) make the list at half the cost.
Nursing schools appear twice. LA County Nursing and Helene Fuld both produce $100K+ earners.
Best Value on This List
| School | Earnings | Tuition | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| American U of Health Sciences | $111,064 | $24,575 | +$86K |
| Helene Fuld Nursing | $101,039 | $24,648 | +$76K |
| U of Health Sciences STL | $116,360 | $31,920 | +$84K |
The Pattern
High earnings at 6 years reflects the career you enter, not just the school name. Healthcare and STEM produce the highest early-career earnings. Access these through:
Next Steps
Search colleges by outcomes on GradeToGrad.
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