This is debated endlessly. This link has some good info on major specific salaries, http://www.hamiltonproject.org/charts/career_earnings_by_college_major/. This, http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/documents/, has some good info on earnings by school, if you look under mobility. Have you run the NPCs? If you’re low enough income, a top private may be just as affordable as a public flagship(especially at out of state prices).