Understanding College Earnings Data

How College Earnings Data Is Collected

Unlike salary websites that rely on voluntary surveys, College Scorecard earnings come from matching Department of Education student records with IRS tax data. This means the numbers reflect actual reported income, not estimates, not self-reported, not a recruiter's promise.

The Department tracks students who received federal financial aid and measures their earnings at various intervals after enrollment: 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, and 10 years. The 10-year measure is most useful because it captures career progression beyond entry-level positions. PlainCollege shows these earnings for every school. Browse all schools to compare.

What the Numbers Include (and Don't)

Several important caveats affect how you should interpret College Scorecard earnings:

• Aid recipients only: Only students who received federal financial aid are tracked. At schools where many students pay full price, the sample may not represent the full student body.
• Includes non-completers: Institution-level earnings include students who enrolled but didn't graduate. Schools with low graduation rates will show lower median earnings because non-completers generally earn less.
• No cost-of-living adjustment: A school in New York City will show higher nominal earnings than one in rural Montana, even if purchasing power is similar.
• Field-of-study matters: Engineering-heavy schools appear to have higher earnings than liberal arts colleges, but this reflects program mix, not institutional quality.

Comparing Schools Fairly

To compare schools meaningfully, use these approaches:

1. Compare program-level earnings (same field of study) rather than institution-level numbers.
2. Factor in graduation rates, a school with 90% completion and $55K median earnings may deliver better outcomes than one with 40% completion and $60K earnings.
3. Consider net price (tuition minus financial aid) alongside earnings to calculate actual ROI.
4. Look at the earnings trajectory, not just one point, some fields start lower but grow faster.

PlainCollege's comparison tool lets you evaluate multiple schools side by side with all of these metrics.

How to spot misleading rankings

National college rankings often mix earnings, selectivity, alumni giving, and reputation surveys into a single composite. The composite can hide the fact that two schools with similar overall ranks have wildly different outcomes for students like you. Look at the underlying earnings figure for the field you care about, not the headline composite.

The earnings curve at six and ten years

Two schools with identical six-year earnings can diverge meaningfully by year ten. Engineering and computer-science programs tend to start strong and grow modestly. Business and finance programs typically start lower and accelerate as graduates move into mid-career roles. Always check both windows where the data permit.

Worked example: comparing two business programs

Consider two business bachelor's programs with similar headline earnings. Program A reports a six-year median of $58,000 vs $62,000 at year ten. Program B reports $48,000 at six years vs $72,000 at year ten. Program B's slower start is more than offset by its steeper trajectory, and the spread between the two at year ten is meaningful.

Reference table: how to read each Scorecard column

Frequently Asked Questions