Interesting rankings...

Niedermeyer · #1 08-09-2008, 12:19 PM

First....

This post is not intended to be inflammatory. I simply thought everyone would find it interesting. The link below ranks schools by graduates that earn the highest amount of money. No, this poll is not an exact science. So take it for what it is worth.

I was very surprised to see there were no Big 10 schools (other than Northwestern). I fully expected to see many Pac 10 and Ivy league schools.

Lastly, I was not all surprised to see the SEC was nonexistant, except for Vandy. That should not be a surprise to anyone.

Here you go...

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08..._topSlideShows

violetpretty · #2 08-09-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niedermeyer

First....

This post is not intended to be inflammatory. I simply thought everyone would find it interesting. The link below ranks schools by graduates that earn the highest amount of money. No, this poll is not an exact science. So take it for what it is worth.

I was very surprised to see there were no Big 10 schools (other than Northwestern). I fully expected to see many Pac 10 and Ivy league schools.

Lastly, I was not all surprised to see the SEC was nonexistant, except for Vandy. That should not be a surprise to anyone.

Here you go...

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08..._topSlideShows

It's almost entirely small "elite" schools. No surprise there wasn't a showing of many larger schools, because larger schools will have plenty of graduates bringing the average down.

It also has to do with popular majors at the school. Engineering is very popular at Bucknell and Lehigh, and engineers make a good amount of money. Therefore, Bucknell and Lehigh grads made it high on the list.

magichat · #3 08-09-2008, 12:58 PM

I think the reason behind the missing SEC and Big 10 schools is that the markets they put their graduates into, for the most part, have lower COL and therefore lower salaries. Most of those schools dump their graduates into major cities or into specific industries that make a ton of money.

I'd imagine that 35k a year out of U Alabama (if the person stays local) is going to have a ton more purchasing power then 60k out of Pace.

Benzgirl · #4 08-09-2008, 01:42 PM

I admit, I had to look up Union College. Other than that, I am not surprised the top schools were mostly Ivy League and strong engineering schools.

banditone · #5 08-09-2008, 02:25 PM

#38!

They must be taking into account the market you most likely live in. Otherwise Austin, TX should be higher.

Niedermeyer · #6 08-09-2008, 02:40 PM

Again, polls are NOT an exact science....

What struck me as interesting was the "top incomes". I think these are incomes for people that have been competing in the workplace (i.e. against graduates from other schools) for an extended period of time.

Yes, engineers start out right out of college with higher pay. However, their pay tops out (relatively speaking) fairly average. That's not a "knock" on engineers. I could never have earned a degree in engineering.

Also, the Ivys, USC's, Notre Dame's, Vandy's, Emory's, Duke's, Northwestern's, Stanford's etc. of the world tend to dispurse their graduates over a greater area because they tend to try to enroll kids from all over (unlike a public school).

Anyways, one could argue the merits and faults of this poll from so many angles...

Boodleboy322 · #7 08-09-2008, 02:48 PM

Hoorah Bulldogs!

Benzgirl · #8 08-09-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niedermeyer

Yes, engineers start out right out of college with higher pay. However, their pay tops out (relatively speaking) fairly average. That's not a "knock" on engineers. I could never have earned a degree in engineering.

You are stereotyping engineers to people who always stay in engineering. One of my doctors has both a BS and an MS in EE. Many of my friends with engineering degrees have either gone on to own their own companies, particularly manufacturing companies.

When I was working on my MBA, most of those in the program with me were engineers. My brother (Civil) is Chief Estimator for a major paving contractor, my father (Civil) is a consultant, my cousin (Mechanical) became a physician, another cousin (Nuclear) CIO of a think tank, my neighbor (Mechanical) owns a manufacturing company and my good friend (Electrical) is in medical equipment sales. I'm not saying they are all at the top range that are listed, but I can't say they have "topped out" on their pay.

Engineering attracts and teaches analytics and critical thinking, which are also a qualities necessary to be successful. Among my friends, we would look at students of engineering and hold them in a high regard.

nittanyalum · #9 08-09-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I admit, I had to look up Union College. Other than that, I am not surprised the top schools were mostly Ivy League and strong engineering schools.

I was about to reply with the exact same thing, including having to google Union! Hmmm, it's like we're sisters or something...

Quote:

Originally Posted by magichat

I'd imagine that 35k a year out of U Alabama (if the person stays local) is going to have a ton more purchasing power then 60k out of Pace.

This is a good point.

Psi U MC Vito · #10 08-09-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I admit, I had to look up Union College.

Every Greek should know Union College, We are talking about the mother of fraternities after all.

Benzgirl · #11 08-09-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Every Greek should know Union College, We are talking about the mother of fraternities after all.

"Fraternity and Sorority Life at Union College has a long and rich history. As the home of the Union Triad, we are hailed as the Mother of Fraternities. As such, Union College has always been a leader in the Fraternity & Sorority movement."

....And, so they say

Psi U MC Vito · #12 08-09-2008, 05:50 PM

five national organizations have been founded there, including the Kappa Alpha Order. So it started there in a sense.

magichat · #13 08-09-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

five national organizations have been founded there, including the Kappa Alpha Order. So it started there in a sense.

No, Kappa Alpha Society was founded at Union, not Kappa Alpha Order

two seperate and totally unrelated organizations.

Psi U MC Vito · #14 08-09-2008, 07:35 PM

sorry. I confuse the two. Should have checked before making an ass of myself.

breathesgelatin · #15 08-09-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magichat

No, Kappa Alpha Society was founded at Union, not Kappa Alpha Order

two seperate and totally unrelated organizations.

KA Order was founded at Washington and Lee.

Can anyone transcribe the list? I'm too lazy to scroll through it all myself. LOL

Two MAJOR disclaimers from the list:

Quote:

ll data were collected from employees who completed PayScale's employee survey. Only U.S.-based full-time employees who are paid an hourly wage or annual salary are included. Only employees who possess a Bachelor's degree and no higher degree were included. Careers that require advanced degrees, such as in law or medicine, are not included. Annual salaries include base salary or hourly wages combined with commissions, bonuses, overtime, profit-sharing, and other forms of cash earnings. Mid-career employees have 10 or more years of experience in their field and are typically 42 years old, with 15.5 years of experience. Of course, many graduates earn considerably more than the median.

Quote:

Editor's Note: The list does not include many small colleges, such as Amherst, Bowdoin, Williams, and Swarthmore, because the sample size of graduates in the 90th percentile of mid-career median salaries was too small.

It's interesting, but given those disclaimers I'm not sure how much it REALLY means. Don't the people who want to earn crazy big salaries usually get MBAs, JDs, or MDs anyway?

banditone, I don't think I realized you went to UT... duh.