November 15, 2019

Susquehanna University ranks among the Top 10% of universities in the U.S. for career-long earnings, according to a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

Susquehanna ranks No. 338 among 4,500 colleges and universities nationwide for salary earned over the length of a career. The university ranks No. 24 among four-year, private universities in Pennsylvania. Other universities within the Top 25 include the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh and Duquesne universities and Swarthmore College.

Specifically, the report found that by the end of their careers, Susquehanna graduates could expect to earn an additional $1 million in today’s dollars than if they had not gone to college.

“These results demonstrate that a college education continues to be a wise investment for a young person preparing for a prosperous future,” said Susquehanna University President Jonathan D. Green. “Not only do college graduates earn significantly more over their lifetimes than those who do not complete college degrees, a Susquehanna education prepares its graduates to be informed and engaged citizens, which benefits us all.”

Susquehanna’s Class of 2018 outcomes show that 76.3% reported being employed and 14.2% said they were enrolled in a graduate or professional program. The remaining 9.5% were participating in postgraduate internships and fellowships and compensated volunteer programs, placing Susquehanna in the top five in Pennsylvania, according to Zippia Inc.

Georgetown’s “A First Try at ROI” report ranks 4,500 two- and four-year colleges that primarily offer bachelor’s or associate degrees or certificates by their return on investment 10 to 40 years after enrollment. To measure ROI, the study uses net present value, which estimates how future earnings are valued in the present. The measure, calculated using data from the College Scorecard, a website run by the federal government, essentially weighs the cost of paying for college against what students could potentially earn later.