Graduates of Missouri University of Science and Technology have the highest starting salaries in the Midwest and are among the best-paid in the nation, according to a recent report by Payscale Inc., a Seattle-based research firm.
The PayScale 2008 Education and Salary Report, released recently, puts Missouri S&T first among Midwestern universities in terms of starting median salary for graduates.
The starting median salary for Missouri S&T graduates is $57,100. Second in the Midwest was the University of Notre Dame ($56,300). Case Western Reserve University, Illinois Institute of Technology and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology rounded out the top five in the region.
The report also ranked Missouri S&T 25th in the nation for starting salaries. No. 1 nationally was California Institute of Technology, where graduates earn a starting median salary of $75,500.
“Our students are highly sought after due to their strong academics, their work experience prior to graduation through our co-op and internship programs, and their involvement with student organizations,” said Lea-Ann Morton, director of Missouri S&T’s Career Opportunities Center.
“We know this based on our annual survey of employers in which we ask them to rank Missouri S&T graduates in comparison to graduates from other universities.”
With an emphasis on engineering, science and technology, Missouri S&T prepares students who will play crucial roles in addressing many of the nation’s business and technological challenges, says Missouri S&T Chancellor John F. Carney III.
“Today’s Missouri S&T students are the future engineers, scientists, and business and community leaders who will work to solve our nation’s energy and environmental problems, address our infrastructure needs, and ensure we remain a leader in the global economy,” Carney said.
“This report underscores the importance of choosing the right university and major,” he adds. “It also shows our students and their families that their investment in a Missouri S&T education pays off.”
Last May, 74 percent of the Missouri S&T graduating class of approximately 600 bachelor degree recipients accepted a full-time position while 13 percent went on to graduate school, Morton said. The remaining 13 percent either entered the military, returned to their home countries, or did not report post-graduation plans to the Career Opportunities Center.
Last year, 673 different employers from 41 states and two international locations recruited Missouri S&T students. In addition, employers conducted 4,392 interviews on campus.
The PayScale report was conducted when Missouri S&T was still known as the University of Missouri-Rolla. The university name was changed to Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) on Jan. 1.
The PayScale report includes more than 2,000 data points, including salary data for 40 Majors, from more than 300 U.S. based undergraduate colleges and universities. The report is available online at www.payscale.com/best-colleges.