去美国留学，要想选择一所适合自己的大学，你要考虑的因素可不少--学术条件，地理位置，学费等等，从方方面面都需要仔细考量。

　　现在的大学排行榜琳琅满目，各家排行榜都有自己计算方法，根据毕业率，学生满意度，学术声誉，毕业生工资等方面进行综合排行。

　　如果你只关心毕业后能不能拿到高薪，那么今天介绍的这个榜单绝对适合你！

　　如果把上大学当做对自己的一项投资，那么去哪所大学能得到最高的回报呢？PayScale发布了一份2015美国高校ROI（投资回报率）排行榜！这份排行榜基于美国大学本科毕业生20年后的工资数据和在校时的花费情况，计算出每所学校的投资回报率ROI。也就是说，这是一份只看“钱”的榜单~

　　那么排名结果如何呢？

　　这份榜单排名前三的学校，全部都是理工类的私立精英学校。排名第一这所学校也许你以前从未听说过它的大名：Harvey Mudd College。这是一所位于加州克莱蒙特的私立学院，学校在校的本科生仅有807名。Harvey Mudd College是五校联盟（Five College Consortium）中的一员。PayScale的数据显示，Mudd毕业生在过去20年的总回报额为985,300美元，年均ROI为8.7%，而学生在校四年总花费为237,700美元。

　　排名第二的是位于加州的帕萨迪纳市的加州理工学院（California Institute of Technology），也就是传说中的Caltech。该校共有977名本科生（1204名研究生），可以算是西海岸为数不多的能与MIT相媲美的研究型大学了。Caltech毕业生20年的ROI为8.6%，20年总回报额达到901,400美元，而学生四年在校总花费为221,600美元。

　　排名第三位的Stevens Institute of Technology是一匹黑马，这所位于新泽西州霍博肯市的大学从去年的第九位飙升到今年的第三位，在校本科生共2691名。这所学校自1870年创立以来，一直专注于技术发明和创新。学校的名字来自Stevens家族，这个家族的成员设计了美国第一台蒸汽机车。该校毕业生20年总回报额为841,000美元，而学生在校四年总花费为232,000美元。

　　这份榜单中排名在前25位的学校里，有7所公认的一流大学，包括斯坦福、麻省理工、普林斯顿、布朗、Rice、伯克利和卡耐基梅隆，这些学校的毕业生拥有高工资并不令人意外。其余大部分学校都是理工类大学。在这前25位的大学里，有一所学校我以前从没听说过，South Dakota School of Mines & Technology。这是一所位于拉皮特城的州立学校，在校本科生有2798人。它在本次PayScale前25名的榜单中出现了两次，该校州内学生的ROI排在22位，州外学生的ROI排在23位。该校王牌专业是“石油工程”，虽然油价下跌对就业产生了一些影响，但就目前而言，石油工程毕业生的就业形势依然相当不错。这所建立于1885年的学校主要服务于当地的采矿业，学校现有16个学院。对STEM专业感兴趣的学生可以关注一下这所学校。

　　还有一所学校也颇为冷门，排在第12位的Kettering University。这是一所位于美国密歇根州弗林特市的理工类大学。1919年，这所学校刚刚成立的时候仅仅是一家服务于汽车工业的夜校，1926年，通用汽车公司接手了这所学校，将这里作为培养汽车工程师和经理的基地。1981年，这所学校从通用汽车公司中独立出来，并将校名改成了Kettering University，以纪念作为创立者之一的Charles Kettering。现在这所学校的专业涉及所有STEM学科领域和商科，毕业生20年ROI为752,900美元。

　　下面是Top100大学的具体名单：

　　PayScale's Top 100 Return On Investment Colleges For 2015 With Campus Housing，Without Fiancial AidRankSchool Name20 Year Net ROITotal 4 Year CostGraduation Rate1Harvey Mudd CollegeHarvey Mudd College (Private)$985,300$237,70091%2California Institute of Technology (Caltech)California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (Private)$901,400$221,60093%3Stevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of Technology (Private)$841,000$232,00079%4Colorado School of MinesColorado School of Mines (In-State)$831,000$112,00070%5Babson CollegeBabson College (Private)$812,800$230,20091%6Stanford UniversityStanford University (Private)$809,700$233,30096%7Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Private)$798,500$224,50093%8Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology (In-State)$796,300$86,70082%9Princeton UniversityPrinceton University (Private)$795,700$217,30097%10Colorado School of MinesColorado School of Mines (Out-of-State)$771,000$172,00070%11Virginia Military Institute (VMI)Virginia Military Institute (VMI) (In-State)$767,300$95,70076%12Kettering UniversityKettering University (Private)$752,900$190,10061%13Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT)Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) (Private)$735,100$217,90073%14Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T)Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) (In-State)$726,000$87,00063%15Brown UniversityBrown University (Private)$723,900$229,10095%16Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Private)$722,100$220,90081%17Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology (Out-of-State)$721,300$161,70082%18NYU Polytechnic School of EngineeringNYU Polytechnic School of Engineering (Private)$713,900$219,10057%19Rice UniversityRice University (Private)$708,400$204,60091%20University of California - BerkeleyUniversity of California - Berkeley (In-State)$703,100$129,90091%21South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologySouth Dakota School of Mines & Technology (In-State)$700,900$82,10046%22Massachusetts Maritime AcademyMassachusetts Maritime Academy (In-State)$694,500$88,50067%23South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologySouth Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Out-of-State)$692,900$90,10046%24Virginia Military Institute (VMI)Virginia Military Institute (VMI) (Out-of-State)$689,800$173,20076%25Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) (Private)$688,500$234,50088%26New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) (In-State)$680,800$122,20058%27Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) (Private)$680,500$232,50085%28Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T)Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) (Out-of-State)$671,700$141,30063%29California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) - San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) - San Luis Obispo (In-State)$669,800$93,20070%30Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University (In-State)$661,700$101,30065%31University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania (Private)$659,000$234,00096%32Lafayette CollegeLafayette College (Private)$656,100$226,90088%33Manhattan CollegeManhattan College (Private)$647,900$185,20074%34Harvard UniversityHarvard University (Private)$646,100$227,00097%35Massachusetts Maritime AcademyMassachusetts Maritime Academy (Out-of-State)$636,000$147,00067%36New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) (Out-of-State)$633,500$169,50058%37University of California - San Diego (UCSD)University of California - San Diego (UCSD) (In-State)$625,000$118,00086%38California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) - San Luis ObispoCalifornia Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) - San Luis Obispo (Out-of-State)$624,600$138,40070%39Texas A&M University - Main CampusTexas A&M University - Main Campus (In-State)$619,800$83,20079%40Duke UniversityDuke University (Private)$619,200$233,80094%41Rutgers University - Newark CampusRutgers University - Newark Campus (In-State)$617,900$115,10068%42Brigham Young University (BYU)Brigham Young University (BYU) (Private)$615,700$67,30078%43University of Virginia (UVA) - Main CampusUniversity of Virginia (UVA) - Main Campus (In-State)$615,100$97,90093%44University of California - BerkeleyUniversity of California - Berkeley (Out-of-State)$611,600$221,40091%45Clarkson University - Potsdam, NYClarkson University - Potsdam, NY (Private)$609,000$214,00073%46Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University (Out-of-State)$607,300$155,70065%47Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College (Private)$604,600$238,70095%48Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) - Prescott, AZEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) - Prescott, AZ (Private)$603,700$179,30059%49Cornell University - Ithaca, NYCornell University - Ithaca, NY (Private)$600,000$233,00093%50Wabash CollegeWabash College (Private)$597,100$175,90069%51Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara University (Private)$596,200$226,80084%52Lehigh UniversityLehigh University (Private)$593,800$219,20086%53Purdue University - Main CampusPurdue University - Main Campus (In-State)$591,700$91,30070%54Columbia UniversityColumbia University (Private)$591,400$241,60093%55Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee University (Private)$589,900$223,10090%56Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University (Private)$589,700$233,30093%57New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) (In-State)$583,700$69,30044%58Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University (Private)$583,000$220,00080%59Bucknell UniversityBucknell University (Private)$580,500$232,50091%60Yale UniversityYale University (Private)$578,500$234,50098%61Rutgers University - Newark CampusRutgers University - Newark Campus (Out-of-State)$566,400$166,60068%62University of Alabama - Huntsville CampusUniversity of Alabama - Huntsville Campus (In-State)$564,700$88,30048%63Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) (Private)$561,200$201,80063%64Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaSaint Mary's College of California (Private)$561,000$222,00068%64University of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Maryland - College Park (In-State)$561,000$92,00084%66California State Polytechnic University - PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University - Pomona (In-State)$559,100$83,90052%66Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech)Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) (Private)$559,100$203,90054%68Texas A&M University - Main CampusTexas A&M University - Main Campus (Out-of-State)$556,800$146,20079%68Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University (Private)$556,800$236,20093%70Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (In-State)$555,000$98,00082%71Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT)Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) (In-State)$552,300$80,70044%72University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (In-State)$551,200$111,80084%73Loyola University - Baltimore, MDLoyola University - Baltimore, MD (Private)$550,200$222,80084%74Lawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological University (Private)$548,900$164,10049%75University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame (Private)$546,600$226,40095%75Bentley UniversityBentley University (Private)$546,600$216,40087%77University of Massachusetts (UMass) - Lowell CampusUniversity of Massachusetts (UMass) - Lowell Campus (In-State)$545,400$97,60054%78Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) - Daytona Beach, FLEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) - Daytona Beach, FL (Private)$542,500$180,50057%79University of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor (In-State)$541,500$101,50090%80New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech)New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) (Out-of-State)$541,300$111,70044%81Montana Tech of The University of MontanaMontana Tech of The University of Montana (In-State)$541,100$71,90049%82San Jose State University (SJSU)San Jose State University (SJSU) (In-State)$540,000$93,00048%83West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) (In-State)$536,200$66,80020%84University of California - Irvine (UCI)University of California - Irvine (UCI) (In-State)$535,000$118,00086%85University of California - San Diego (UCSD)University of California - San Diego (UCSD) (Out-of-State)$533,500$209,50086%86George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University (In-State)$530,600$92,40067%87SUNY - Binghamton UniversitySUNY - Binghamton University (In-State)$526,900$86,10081%88University of Washington (UW) - Main CampusUniversity of Washington (UW) - Main Campus (In-State)$523,800$99,20082%89Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee School of Engineering (Private)$523,000$180,00056%90University of Texas (UT) - AustinUniversity of Texas (UT) - Austin (In-State)$522,700$100,30079%91Rutgers University - New Brunswick CampusRutgers University - New Brunswick Campus (In-State)$518,800$114,20080%92Purdue University - Main CampusPurdue University - Main Campus (Out-of-State)$518,400$164,60070%93University of Alabama - Huntsville CampusUniversity of Alabama - Huntsville Campus (Out-of-State)$518,200$134,80048%94California State Polytechnic University - PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University - Pomona (Out-of-State)$514,000$129,00052%95University of Virginia (UVA) - Main CampusUniversity of Virginia (UVA) - Main Campus (Out-of-State)$513,700$199,30093%96Drexel UniversityDrexel University (Private)$513,300$219,70070%97College of the Holy CrossCollege of the Holy Cross (Private)$511,600$221,40091%98Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Erie-Behrend CollegePennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Erie-Behrend College (In-State)$506,500$116,50070%99Southern Polytechnic State UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State University (In-State)$503,300$69,70037%100West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) (Out-of-State)$502,800$100,20020%

　　PayScale的这份榜单可谓数据详实，那么PayScale是如何获得这些数据的？

　　用户可以通过PayScale来查找相应职位的工资情况，以此来确定自己现在的薪资处于哪种水平。如果用户想要了解更加详细的数据，他们首先需要填写一份调查问卷，将自己的职位名称和工资提供给PayScale。自2002年在西雅图成立以来，PayScale正是通过这种方式积累了四千万份职业档案数据。为了使排行榜更加具有时效性和可信度，他们只选用了过去两年的工资数据，即2013年2月到2015年2月的数据，平均每所学校选用的校友样本数量为315人。

　　另外PayScale还有很多付费客户，包括公司企业，律所，非盈利机构，地方政府等，这些客户也会为PayScale提供更为详实的工资数据补充。

　　要特别注意的是，如果一位学生本科毕业后去读了研究生，不管是商科还是法学院，那么这名学生将被排除在PayScale本次评选的样本之外，因为很难评估他的薪资水平受到研究生经历的影响有多大。这就可以解释为什么某些顶尖大学在这份排行榜中的排名不尽如人意，例如芝加哥大学在Forbes大学排行榜上名列24位，而在PayScale的这份榜单中仅列142位。另外PayScale也将自主创业的校友排除在样本之外。

　　这份榜单还将“奖学金/助学金”作为一个可选的考虑因素，如果将奖学金从在校成本中扣除的话，宾夕法尼亚大学，拉法耶特学院（Lafayette College），杜克大学，伦斯勒理工学院（Rensselaer Polytechnic）和达特茅斯都可以进入到ROI排行榜的前25名，因为这些学校的奖学金和助学金额度和覆盖比例是比较高的。

　　这份以毕业后工资为主要评估因素的排行榜，确实可以为我们的选校提供一些参考。曾有人说过：上大学的目的很简单，就是为了学习挣钱的本领。（The goal of college is simple: to gain skills that will pay higher after graduation.）

　　但我不这样认为，大学教育可以提高学生的知识水平，丰富学生的内心世界，学生可以全面提高自己对历史、文学、艺术、外语、科学等领域的理解，在大学期间结识的老师和同学将是我们一生的财富。大学令我们渊博，令我们严谨，令我们成为更好的人。这些好处又怎能是ROI能计算的出来的呢？

（文章摘自“美国留学中心”，版权归原作者所有，如有转载，请注明出处。）