Editor's Note: This article, translated from the Chinese media, discusses which universities in China produce the highest earning graduates. There are really no big surprises on the list: graduates from northern elite universities, Project 211 and 985 universities, and universities in first-tier cities generally earn more. What is more surprising is how little young graduates from the best universities of China earn: usually around 10,000 per month.

Which colleges in China produce the graduates with the highest salaries? China Research Institute recently released a list of the top 100 universities in China whose graduates earn the highest salaries after graduation. The list is based on data on 620 colleges nationwide from the professional job site iPIN.com.

68 of the top 100 universities are located north of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. 40 of the universities are located in Beijing, 21 are in Shanghai, and 6 are in Guangdong. The universities in Guangdong are Zhongshan University, South China University of Technology, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou University of Fine Arts, Guangdong University of Business Studies, and Shenzhen University. Shantou University, located in Shantou, is also included in the list.

Universities in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, Dalian, Harbin, Changsha, Hefei, Chongqing, Xiamen, Nanchang, Changchun, and Zhangjiakou are also included.  In universities within in first-tier cities, only 29 have an unemployment rate of graduates within first-tier cities below 50%.

Statistics show that three are three factors that determine whether or not a university can produce high-earning graduates. The first is whether or not the university is a first-tier university. The second factor is location: is the university in a first or second-tier city? The third is whether the school offers popular programs in high-earning professions. When college graduates are on the post-graduation job hunt, which university they attended can be an important factor in determining salary.

Graduates of Elite Universities Earn More

In the list of 100 universities, only 14 are second-tier universities. (In China, first-tier universities are the best, then second-tier, then third-tier). This means, that it is important for those entering college to focus on first-tier universities, especially Project 211 and 985 universities. Project 211 and 985 universities are top schools that receive large government grants for research, facilities, conferences and more.

The universities with the highest earning graduates are: Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Peking University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China Foreign Affairs University, Shanghai International Studies University, Tonji University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The average five year salary for graduates from these universities is over 10,000 Yuan. Tsinghua University graduates make the most: about 12,807 Yuan per month.

Out of 100 universities listed in 20 cities, 68 are located in first-tier cities . 40 are located in Beijing, 21 in Shanghai, six in Guangzhou, and one in Shenzhen. Out of the 14 second-tier institutions listed, only two- Hebei Institute of Architectural Engineering, and Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics- are not located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Most of the second-tier universities on the list are concentrated around Beijing, Guangzhou, and other high salary cities.

Don't Forget About 985 and 211

There are 32 universities on the list located in second-tier cities. There are five in Nanjing, four in Hangzhou, three in Tianjin and Xi'an and two in Wuhan, Chengdu, Dalian, Harbin, and Changsha. Hefei, Chongqing, Xiamen, Shantou, Nanchang, Changchun, and Zhangjiakou all have one university on the list. Apart from Hebei Institute of Architectural Engineering, the vast majority of the 32 universities in second-tier cities are Project 985 and 211 universities.

Attend the Best School for Your Field

For graduates studying engineering, finance, language, and art, the highest earners went to universities with strong programs in their professional fields. There are a number of professional schools that have the highest earning graduates in their fields regardless of university location or rank. In the top 100 list, there are 11 finance schools, seven language universities, and five art schools. The majority of the professional schools listed are not 985 or 211, but are national leaders within their discipline. 

Source: QQ News 

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Keywords: High earning Chinese graduates China university graduates salary