Missouri S&T graduates have the highest starting salaries in the
Midwest and are among the best-paid in the nation, according to a recent report
by Payscale Inc., a Seattle-based research firm.

The PayScale 2008 Education
and Salary Report, released July 30, puts Missouri S&T first among
Midwestern universities in terms of starting median salary for graduates. The
starting median salary for Missouri S&T graduates is $57,100. Second in the
Midwest was the University of Notre Dame ($56,300). Case Western Reserve
University, Illinois Institute of Technology and South Dakota School of Mines
and Technology rounded out the top five in the region.

“This report underscores the importance of choosing the right university and
major. It also shows our students and their families that their investment in a
Missouri S&T education pays off." – Chancellor John F. Carney III

The report also ranked Missouri S&T 25th in the nation for starting
salaries. No. 1 nationally was California Institute of Technology, where
graduates earn a starting median salary of $75,500.

“Our students are highly sought after due to their strong academics, their
work experience prior to graduation through our co-op and internship programs,
and their involvement with student organizations,” says Lea-Ann Morton,
director of Missouri S&T’s Career Opportunities Center. “We know this based
on our annual survey of employers in which we ask them to rank Missouri S&T
graduates in comparison to graduates from other universities.”

With an emphasis on engineering, science and technology, Missouri S&T
prepares students who will play crucial roles in addressing many of the
nation’s business and technological challenges, says Missouri S&T
Chancellor John F. Carney III.

“Today’s Missouri S&T students are the future engineers, scientists, and
business and community leaders who will work to solve our nation’s energy and
environmental problems, address our infrastructure needs, and ensure we remain
a leader in the global economy,” Carney says.

“This report underscores the importance of choosing the right university and
major,” he adds. “It also shows our students and their families that their
investment in a Missouri S&T education pays off.”

Last May, 74 percent of the Missouri S&T graduating class of
approximately 600 bachelor degree recipients accepted a full-time position
while 13 percent went on to graduate school, Morton says. The remaining 13
percent either entered the military, returned to their home countries, or did
not report post-graduation plans to the Career Opportunities Center.

Last year, 673 different employers from 41 states and two international
locations recruited Missouri S&T students. In addition, employers conducted
4,392 interviews on campus.

The PayScale report was conducted when Missouri S&T was still known as
the University of Missouri-Rolla. The university name was changed to Missouri
University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) on Jan. 1, 2008.

The PayScale report includes more than 2,000 data points, including salary
data for 40 Majors, from more than 300 U.S. based undergraduate colleges and
universities. The report is available online at www.payscale.com/best-colleges.