SMU Ranks 1st in California, 5th Nationwide for Post-Graduation Salaries on College Scorecard
Samuel Merritt University (SMU) alumni earn the highest salaries among undergraduates from all other California universities and from nearly all schools nationwide, according to the recently updated College Scorecard from the U.S. Department of Education.
Graduates of SMU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and RN to BSN programs earn a median salary of $111,100 a decade after beginning their studies, higher than 562 other California higher education institutions. Nationwide, SMU comes in fifth for post-graduation earnings — beating out 5,868 other schools, including MIT and Harvard University.
SMU has consistently come out on top in California for the critical metric of “salary after attending” since the federal government launched the College Scorecard in 2015. Results are based on the average reported earnings of former undergraduate students who received federal loans or grants.
“This is great news for SMU’s alumni and our current undergraduate students,” said President Dr. Ching-Hua Wang. “It demonstrates that an SMU education prepares students well for successful and rewarding careers.”
Transparency in higher ed
President Barack Obama initiated the College Scorecard to increase transparency in higher education and help guide prospective students in selecting a school to attend. Its metrics were intended to hold colleges accountable for cost, quality, and value by offering information that focuses on getting what he called “the most bang for your educational buck.”
The interactive, fact-finding tool uses federal data to compare schools based on metrics such as college costs and graduation rates. Unlike popular college ranking systems like U.S. News & World Report, the scorecard includes post-attendance earnings as an indicator of student outcomes.
“The College Scorecard confirms that SMU graduates receive an excellent return on their investment,” said Terry Nordstrom, vice president of enrollment and student services. “Samuel Merritt University prides itself on providing an academic experience that enables our graduates to thrive in challenging and fulfilling professions.”
