21 Lesser-Known Schools That Quietly Produce Top Earners

21. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Urbana, IL

While not entirely “under the radar,” UIUC often gets overlooked in conversations dominated by coastal elites—despite being a global leader in engineering, data science, and business. Its graduates power some of the biggest companies in Silicon Valley and beyond, especially through its renowned College of Engineering and Gies College of Business. With massive research funding, powerful alumni connections, and a strong internship culture, UIUC equips students to compete and thrive in high-paying fields like software engineering, AI, finance, and consulting. Median early-career salary: $78,500.