<p>I’ve met some MIT grads and many of them have some things going for them that are above and beyond an engineering degree. It’s not hard to see how they got into a school with a single digit accept rate, and I would expect that they would snare the higher paid jobs. I daresay, a number of them would the ones getting the top pay jobs regardless of where they went to school. It was not just that they went to MIT that make them the sterling brains that they are. However, add to that the extra opportunities one does get from graduating from a name school like MIT, and also the fact that there are quite a few MIT grads that come from families where there are some plans already there for those grad, and it’s no surprise at all to see those averages.</p>
<p>There was a study, regarding the success of those who went to the state schools, less selective school, but who had the stats and profiles to get into the the most selective ones but either did not pursue that choice or turned it down. Though there is no question that those who graduate from, say ivy league schools, will be getting the higher salaries, much as your data shows for the MIT grads, when one looks at those individuals who coulda gone, they do just as well.</p>
<p>Anecdotally, it seems to run the same way. A case in point is a woman who is a dear friend of mine and her son a good friend of my kids. She turned down acceptance to a couple of highly selective schools because she was offered a free ride to a local college that included a masters degree if she chose. Because of a love interest at the time, in addition to the freebie, she chose to stay home, a decision she does regret as she never has left the area, But she is one powerhouse person with a job that many from the most select colleges would and did vye to get. Just went to an honorarium for a friend’s niece who is the ONLY Rhodes scholar that a little local college has had. Sure didn’t hurt that woman going there, and it 's no surprise that she is in a top drawer type position making money that many ivy grads would drool over. </p>
<p>And going to these top schools does not guarantee you the mid range salary figure either. Those are averages, and may even be pulled upward by those who have access to some truly high paying jobs due to truly special talents and connections who are more likely to be in these highly selective school The one who graduates by the skin of teeth, who has little personalty, no contacts, no family help and some BO to boot, is going to have a tough go getting that first job, MIT degree in engineering or not.</p>
<p>Plus, what I am saying is that for those first jobs, in particular, I don’t know anyone who is going to assign different dollar figures based on the school of the graduate. Not saying it isn’t ever done, crazy things done in this world, but it isn’t done as a rule.</p>