What makes a school great? Every publication that ranks colleges and universities has its own methodology, usually a combination of test scores prior to entering school and starting salary after graduation. Business Insider, which debuted its seventh annual ranking this week, uses SAT scores per College Board, median starting salary for grads according to PayScale, and feedback from a survey of over 1,000 readers. Their list might not contain many surprises, but it does provide insight into what makes a top school in 2015.
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The full list is here. These are the top 10:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Average SAT Score: 2230
Median Starting Salary: $70,300
Median Mid-Career Salary: $128,800
Percent High Meaning: 57.8%
Average SAT Score: 2215
Median Starting Salary: $62,900
Median Mid-Career Salary: $126,400
Percent High Meaning: 62.3%
Average SAT Score: 2260
Median Starting Salary: $57,700
Median Mid-Career Salary: $118,200
Percent High Meaning: 65.6%
Average SAT Score: 2250
Median Starting Salary: $60,000
Median Mid-Career Salary: $113,900
Percent High Meaning: 57.0%
5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Average SAT Score: 2310
Median Starting Salary: $74,800
Median Mid-Career Salary: $126,200
Percent High Meaning: 60.0%
Average SAT Score: 2255
Median Starting Salary: $58,500
Median Mid-Career Salary: $115,100
Percent High Meaning: 64.6%
Average SAT Score: 2240
Median Starting Salary: $59,500
Median Mid-Career Salary: $108,000
Percent High Meaning: 61.8%
Average SAT Score: 2220
Median Starting Salary: $59,200
Median Mid-Career Salary: $101,100
Percent High Meaning: 57.1%
Average SAT Score: 2190
Median Starting Salary: $59,300
Median Mid-Career Salary: $112,200
Percent High Meaning: 53.4%
Average SAT Score: 2195
Median Starting Salary: $55,500
Median Mid-Career Salary: $104,700
Percent High Meaning: 46.7%
Note: All SAT scores from College Board, per Business Insider. Salary and meaning data from PayScale.
The question for students is, does a top school mean the best school for you? Ivy Leaguers enjoy instant admission to a wide, deep network of loyal alums, which can translate into better career opportunities down the road, but even without one of the ranking best schools on your resume, a solid network is within reach, if you’re willing to develop it yourself through internships, volunteer work, and cultivating relationships with professors and fellow students.
If you’re a prospective college student, the goal is to find the school that allows you to build the best career for you, which means paying attention to factors like reputation, available fields of study, networking opportunities, and yes, earning potential after graduation. For more on the later, look for PayScale’s upcoming updated College Salary Report.
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In your opinion, what are the most important factors when ranking schools? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
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