New Report Recognizes Earning Power of Rensselaer Graduates

September 30, 2014

Rensselaer graduates command some of the highest salaries of any undergraduate degree holders in the nation, according to a new study from PayScale.

Graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute command some of the highest salaries of any undergraduate degree holders in the nation, according to a new study from PayScale.

The PayScale 2014-15 College Salary Report ranks Rensselaer 35 among the 1,002 colleges included on the list. The report shows Rensselaer alumni/ae with an undergraduate degree earn a median early career salary of $62,300, and a median mid-career salary of $110,100. The report does not include graduates who went on to receive master’s or doctoral degrees.

Among the highest-paying job titles held by Rensselaer graduates are software engineer, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer, the report said. According to the report and historical hiring data, popular employers of Rensselaer graduates include Boeing, IBM, General Electric, Pratt and Whitney, and United Technologies Corporation.

The PayScale report is the latest recognition of the long-held reputation of Rensselaer as one of the nation’s top universities. In August, USA Today ranked Rensselaer as fifth on the list of “Top 10 Engineering Colleges in the United States.” In September, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rensselaer 42 among all universities in the United States.

This recognition reinforces what the Institute saw in its most recent admissions cycle: the demand for a Rensselaer education has never been higher.

Top-tier high school students from around the world seek out, apply to, and ultimately choose to attend Rensselaer. The Institute has set records for freshman applications for 10 consecutive years, and applications to join the Rensselaer Class of 2018 represented an increase of 17 percent over the previous year. The admitted first-year class is exceptionally accomplished and diverse, comprised of students with a special interest in discovery, innovation, and interdisciplinary study in architecture, engineering, science, technology, management, and the intersection of technology with the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer is the oldest technological research university in the English-speaking world. As it approaches its bicentennial anniversary, the Institute continues to define The New Polytechnic, a new paradigm for teaching, learning, and research that uses advanced technologies to enable fresh collaborations across disciplines, sectors, and regions, in order to answer the global challenges of our day.

Written By Michael Mullaney
Press Contact Michael Mullaney
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