21 Lesser-Known Schools That Quietly Produce Top Earners

2. Bentley University – Waltham, MA

Bentley University, located just outside Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, is one of the best-kept secrets in business education. While it doesn’t have the household name of an Ivy League institution, Bentley has carved out a niche as a launchpad for high-earning careers in finance, accounting, analytics, and business tech. Its curriculum blends core business principles with cutting-edge data and technology education, ensuring that graduates are both financially literate and digitally fluent—two skills in extremely high demand. What really sets Bentley apart, though, is its career development infrastructure. The school boasts one of the strongest career services offices in the country, with dedicated counselors by major and an extensive employer network that fuels a 97% placement rate within six months of graduation. Graduates frequently land at Big Four firms, investment banks, consulting agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, often with salaries that rival those from more prestigious schools. Bentley’s tight-knit alumni network and industry-forward mindset make it a quiet powerhouse for business-savvy students seeking serious ROI. Median mid-career salary: $128,000.