Vanderbilt has scored its best position ever in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of national universities, finishing No. 16 after five years at No. 17. The university also was recognized for outstanding undergraduate teaching, as a “best value” university, and was a top pick among national universities recommended by high school guidance counselors.
“It is an exceptionally exciting time for Vanderbilt academically, financially and culturally, and we are pleased to receive this national recognition of the Vanderbilt experience and the unique learning opportunities we provide to our students,” says Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos.
Vanderbilt shared the No. 16 ranking with Brown and Notre Dame. Princeton was the No. 1-ranked school for the fourth straight year, followed by Harvard, Yale, and three schools tied for No. 4: Columbia, Stanford, and the University of Chicago.
Vanderbilt School of Engineering improved four spots to rank No. 31 among engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, alongside Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California-Davis, and the University of Virginia.
The School of Engineering also ranks No. 8 on a list of schools that produce the highest-earning engineering graduates, according to a new report from the salary website PayScale.com. Vanderbilt engineering graduates’ early career salary is listed as $64,400, while they typically go on to earn nearly $130,000 a year—mid-career salary—by the time they reach their 30s. PayScale’s 2014–15 College Salary Report includes data for engineering graduates from 216 colleges and universities. Aside from actuarial mathematics, every one of the top 10 best-paying majors is in engineering, PayScale reported.
Hiring rates and salaries once again approached record levels for Vanderbilt’s MBA Class of 2014 as well, with continued gains in technology and management consulting jobs. Total compensation for Owen School graduates also edged up from the previous year, with an average base salary of $100,513. Ninety-four percent of 2014 full-time MBA graduates seeking employment received a job offer 90 days after graduation; 91 percent accepted an offer in that same period.