Dream of having the coolest job in the world? Want to know which university will fast track you to CEO status and the salary that goes with it?

At Crimson, we understand the globally acknowledged drawcards of studying at a world leading university: the superior faculty and facilities, the diverse student body and memorable experiences, research and internship opportunities and life-long alumni connections.

But beyond these well-documented components which see institutions like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale and Columbia appearing at the top of university rankings lists, there is also the financial advantages not realized until after a student graduates.

Recently, CNBC published their first report on which private and public universities ‘pay off the most’, or rather rank the highest when it comes to graduate salaries.

Referred to as a ‘return on investment’ or ROI, many students and parents are viewing a world class college education as exactly that - an ‘investment’ in their child’s future of job opportunities and professional and personal fulfillment.

Want to know more? Here are the top five private schools that offer the highest average salaries for tuition dollars - with the top five public school listings following in Part 2!

1. Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California

It is no wonder that Stanford, located in Silicon Valley near San Francisco, has acceptance rates even lower than it’s east coast counterpart - Harvard. This highly selective school is known for its academic and athletic programs - with its STEM and entrepreneurship focus key to its Top 3 QS World University ranking. Stanford enrolls approximately 7,083 undergraduate students with median future salaries as follows:

• Median salary for alumni with 0-5 years of experience: $76,500
• Median salary for alumni with 10+ years of experience: $143,100
• Salary average: $109,800

Crimson Students are 3x more likely to gain admission to Stanford University.

If you would like to understand how likely you are to get into Stanford University based on your current scores, use our US College Admissions Calculator

2. Princeton University

Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Founded in 1746, making it the fourth-oldest college in the United States, Princeton was recently ranked the best university in the US by USNews. The New Jersey-based Ivy League offers 37 majors or ‘concentrations’ and has a world class reputation for studies in engineering and applied sciences and public and international affairs (at its respected Woodrow Wilson School). Stanford enrolls approximately 5,400 undergraduate students with their median future salaries estimated as follows:

• Median salary for alumni with 0-5 years of experience: $72,700
• Median salary for alumni with 10+ years of experience: $141,300
• Salary average: $107,000

Crimson Students are 4x more likely to gain admission to Princeton University.

If you would like to understand how likely you are to get into Princeton University based on your current scores, use our US College Admissions Calculator

3. The University of Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois

This highly regarded private university located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood recently hit the World Top 10 - currently ranked 9th in the QS World University rankings. UChicago is not only known for its strong programs in STEM, psychology, history and the social sciences, but also its curriculum which requires students to complete courses in three areas: humanities, civilization studies and the arts; natural sciences; and social sciences. UChicago enrols approximately 6,300 undergraduates with their median future salaries estimated as follows:

• Median salary for alumni with 0-5 years of experience: $61,600
• Median salary for alumni with 10+ years of experience: $117,500
• Salary average: $89,550

If you would like to understand how likely you are to get into The University of Chicago based on your current scores, use our US College Admissions Calculator

4. The California Institute of Technology

Location: Pasadena, California

CalTech, is a private, nonprofit engineering university which has a reputation for being one of the best STEM universities in the world (CalTech manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)!) It’s curriculum emphasizes STEM with all students required to take courses in math, physics, chemistry, biology and scientific communication. With an undergraduate program of only 961 students, median future salaries are estimated as follows:

• Median salary for alumni with 0-5 years of experience: $83,400
• Median salary for alumni with 10+ years of experience: $143,100
• Salary average: $81,000

If you would like to understand how likely you are to get into The California Institute of Technology based on your current scores, use our US College Admissions Calculator

5. Harvard University

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard, the oldest and most famous university in the US, is known for its historic legacy, famous alumni, generous financial aid and its proximity to Boston - one of America’s most historically significant cities. Most popular majors include economics, biology and mathematics with 98% of it’s 6,877 strong undergraduate student body graduating from their four year undergraduate degree. Harvard students’ median future salaries are estimated as follows:

• Median salary for alumni with 0-5 years of experience: $72,600
• Median salary for alumni with 10+ years of experience: $142,600
• Salary average: $107,600

Crimson Students are 4x more likely to gain admission to Harvard University.

If you would like to understand how likely you are to get into Harvard University based on your current scores, use our US College Admissions Calculator