# Easy-to-get-into colleges with high graduate salaries

> Four-year colleges that admit at least three in four applicants, ranked by what their former students earn ten years after starting. U.S. College Scorecard, latest data.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/easy-to-get-into-colleges-with-high-salaries
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/easy-to-get-into-colleges-with-high-salaries.csv
- Source data: latest College Scorecard release
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. 693 four-year colleges in 50 states meet every criterion on this page.
2. California State University Maritime Academy (California) ranks first, with median earnings of $105,475 ten years after entry.
3. The median qualifying college has median earnings of $59,134 ten years after entry.
4. 325 qualifying colleges are public and 368 private nonprofit.


## The ranking

| College | State and type | Rank | Admit rate | Median earnings | Avg. net price | Grad. rate |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | California · Public | 1 | 95% | $105,475 | $17,793 | 58% |
| [Massachusetts Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-maritime-academy-1616) | Massachusetts · Public | 2 | 95% | $104,098 | $23,759 | 73% |
| [Kettering University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kettering-university-michigan-1392) | Michigan · Private nonprofit | 3 | 79% | $96,136 | $29,797 | 74% |
| [Wentworth Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wentworth-institute-of-technology-3195) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | 4 | 91% | $94,995 | $30,134 | 63% |
| [Manhattan College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/manhattan-college-1583) | New York · Private nonprofit | 5 | 79% | $92,904 | $25,074 | 68% |
| [Clarkson University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clarkson-university-new-york-567) | New York · Private nonprofit | 6 | 77% | $92,494 | $32,137 | 72% |
| [Drexel University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/drexel-university-834) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | 7 | 79% | $92,338 | $37,529 | 78% |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-prescott-909) | Arizona · Private nonprofit | 8 | 77% | $92,069 | $38,102 | 69% |
| [Loyola University Maryland](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-university-maryland-1552) | Maryland · Private nonprofit | 9 | 75% | $90,179 | $34,082 | 75% |
| [Dominican University of California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dominican-university-of-california-828) | California · Private nonprofit | 10 | 84% | $90,053 | $35,567 | 73% |
| [Gonzaga University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/gonzaga-university-1094) | Washington · Private nonprofit | 11 | 82% | $89,110 | $32,750 | 85% |
| [Molloy College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/molloy-college-1749) | New York · Private nonprofit | 12 | 82% | $86,212 | $26,735 | 69% |
| [Saint Joseph's University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-joseph-s-university-2308) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | 13 | 89% | $85,980 | $33,840 | 81% |
| [University of Portland](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-portland-3021) | Oregon · Private nonprofit | 14 | 89% | $85,634 | $28,803 | 81% |
| [University of Scranton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-scranton-3036) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | 15 | 81% | $85,590 | $32,132 | 82% |
| [Seattle University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seattle-university-2393) | Washington · Private nonprofit | 16 | 77% | $84,728 | $34,324 | 71% |
| [Michigan Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-technological-university-1678) | Michigan · Public | 17 | 92% | $84,681 | $13,446 | 70% |
| [Wagner College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wagner-college-3148) | New York · Private nonprofit | 18 | 88% | $84,179 | $30,038 | 62% |
| [Marquette University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marquette-university-1598) | Wisconsin · Private nonprofit | 19 | 81% | $83,810 | $30,561 | 79% |
| [Saint Mary's College of California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-mary-s-college-of-california-2316) | California · Private nonprofit | 20 | 87% | $83,501 | $32,200 | 67% |
| [San Jose State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/san-jose-state-university-2364) | California · Public | 21 | 85% | $83,493 | $14,241 | 68% |
| [University of Washington-Bothell Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-bothell-campus-3074) | Washington · Public | 22 | 91% | $83,105 | $13,802 | 68% |
| [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus-3076) | Washington · Public | 23 | 83% | $83,105 | $11,900 | 60% |
| [Saint Anselm College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-anselm-college-2292) | New Hampshire · Private nonprofit | 24 | 78% | $83,058 | $34,382 | 80% |
| [University of St Thomas-Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-st-thomas-minnesota-3055) | Minnesota · Private nonprofit | 25 | 85% | $82,322 | $31,532 | 74% |
| [Colorado State University Global](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-state-university-global-476975) | Colorado · Public | 26 | 98% | $82,047 | $17,732 | 26% |
| [Duquesne University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duquesne-university-839) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | 27 | 84% | $81,698 | $37,704 | 76% |
| [The Catholic University of America](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-catholic-university-of-america-2722) | District of Columbia · Private nonprofit | 28 | 83% | $81,308 | $32,543 | 76% |
| [Western New England University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-new-england-university-3234) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | 29 | 83% | $81,107 | $27,077 | 64% |
| [Linfield College-McMinnville Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/linfield-college-mcminnville-campus-1505) | Oregon · Private nonprofit | 30 | 85% | $81,101 | $24,882 | 62% |
| [University of Redlands](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-redlands-3024) | California · Private nonprofit | 31 | 83% | $80,659 | $30,924 | 65% |
| [Creighton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/creighton-university-722) | Nebraska · Private nonprofit | 32 | 80% | $80,642 | $32,456 | 83% |
| [Regis University-Colorado](https://www.collegesref.com/college/regis-university-colorado-2206) | Colorado · Private nonprofit | 33 | 86% | $79,971 | $18,133 | 55% |
| [George Mason University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-mason-university-1065) | Virginia · Public | 34 | 87% | $79,923 | $14,697 | 66% |
| [Saint Johns University-Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-johns-university-minnesota-2305) | Minnesota · Private nonprofit | 35 | 91% | $79,644 | $26,748 | 71% |
| [South Dakota School of Mines and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology-2444) | South Dakota · Public | 36 | 80% | $78,487 | $20,827 | 52% |
| [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-university-chicago-1551) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | 37 | 82% | $78,431 | $36,340 | 72% |
| [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-institute-of-technology-2034) | Oregon · Public | 38 | 95% | $78,398 | $17,499 | 46% |
| [Thomas Jefferson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/thomas-jefferson-university-2781) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | 39 | 81% | $78,311 | $25,555 | 71% |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Massachusetts · Public | 40 | 83% | $77,989 | $17,362 | 69% |
| [New York Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-institute-of-technology-1864) | New York · Private nonprofit | 41 | 81% | $77,833 | $22,613 | 59% |
| [California Lutheran University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-lutheran-university-359) | California · Private nonprofit | 42 | 76% | $77,620 | $26,445 | 69% |
| [University of Colorado Boulder Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-colorado-boulder-main-campus-2899) | Colorado · Public | 43 | 78% | $77,574 | $23,708 | 74% |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | California · Public | 44 | 75% | $77,464 | $9,404 | 68% |
| [Pace University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pace-university-2053) | New York · Private nonprofit | 45 | 76% | $77,411 | $30,721 | 56% |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | New York · Private nonprofit | 46 | 83% | $77,281 | $24,508 | 69% |
| [University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-denver-2906) | Colorado · Private nonprofit | 47 | 78% | $77,205 | $31,961 | 74% |
| [Roger Williams University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/roger-williams-university-2259) | Rhode Island · Private nonprofit | 48 | 88% | $77,127 | $37,645 | 67% |
| [Iona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/iona-college-1302) | New York · Private nonprofit | 49 | 87% | $76,994 | $26,250 | 59% |
| [Bradley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bradley-university-291) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | 50 | 77% | $76,013 | $22,469 | 73% |

## Methodology

- **Colleges counted.** Every college published on CollegesRef that is public or private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class (doctoral, master's or baccalaureate), in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 500 undergraduates and both figures reported in the College Scorecard.
- **Criteria.** This list keeps four-year colleges that admit at least 75% of applicants, then ranks them by median earnings ten years after entry. Closed colleges are left out.
- **Exclusions.** For-profit colleges, two-year colleges, special-focus institutions, colleges with fewer undergraduates than the minimum, U.S. territories and colleges missing either figure are left out. Earnings figures without a federal reporting year are excluded.
- **Definitions.** Median earnings are former students' earnings ten years after entry (College Scorecard MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grants for aided first-time, full-time students (NPT4). Median debt is federal loan debt at graduation (GRAD_DEBT_MDN). Graduation rate is the IPEDS rate reported in the Scorecard.
- **What it leaves out.** A ranking on federal figures says nothing about teaching, fit or programs. Earnings are before tax and not specific to a major; prices are averages, so your family's price depends on its income and the college's aid.

## Frequently asked questions

### How is this list ranked?

CollegesRef keeps four-year colleges that admit at least 75% of applicants, and ranks them by median earnings ten years after entry, highest first. 693 colleges qualify; the top 50 are shown and the CSV holds the same rows.

### Which college ranks first?

California State University Maritime Academy (California, public), with median earnings ten years after entry of $105,475. The median qualifying college reports $59,134.

### Where does the data come from?

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (latest data), which reports IPEDS cost and graduation figures and federal earnings and debt records. CollegesRef recomputes the list weekly from the latest snapshot.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "Easy-to-get-into colleges with high graduate salaries," analysis of the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/easy-to-get-into-colleges-with-high-salaries

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/easy-to-get-into-colleges-with-high-salaries.