South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are some of 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 July 30, ranks the top Midwestern colleges and top U.S. engineering colleges by salary potential. The School of Mines ranked ninth among all Midwest universities and fifteenth nationally among engineering colleges. According to the report, the starting median salary for School of Mines graduates is $55,800 and $93,400 for median mid-career salaries. The report also ranked the top 10 college majors that lead to high salaries. Eight of the 10 majors are offered at the School of Mines and a ninth, aerospace engineering, is field in which many of our alumni enjoy employment.
"This report shows that a School of Mines education is truly an investment in a student's future," Dr. Robert Wharton, School of Mines president, said. "By choosing a career in engineering or science, students have not only the opportunity to invent tomorrow and change the world, but will also be well-compensated for doing so."
The School of Mines has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys for eleven consecutive years, recognizing the solid return on investment that School of Mines graduates receive.
All undergraduate programs emphasize advanced science and math, and all combine classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory work. In addition, 75 percent of graduates have relevant work experience through co-ops and internships. That increases their marketability to employers. For more information, visit http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/career.
"This combination sets up our graduates for success. They leave the School of Mines with the theoretical and practical knowledge and the experience they need, and employers recognize this," Darrell Sawyer, career planning director, said. "This is reflected in the numbers for our biannual Career Fairs, which have steadily risen over the past few years. The 2008 Fall Career Fair is the largest in campus history, and has already reached maximum capacity for employer registrations."
The high salaries reported demonstrate the overall demand for engineers, making the career path a good choice for high school students towards their academic future. For more information on planning a career in engineering, visit http://www.engineeringk12.org/.
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.
