Suburban Colleges

Harvey Mudd College graduates command the highest early career earnings among suburban institutions at $138,687 annually, despite its small enrollment of just 915 students. This California engineering powerhouse represents one extreme in a national market where 998 suburban colleges serve students with vastly different goals and budgets. At the other end sits the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where students pay just $7,506 net cost while preparing for careers in maritime industries that support America's global trade networks. The acceptance rate spread tells its own story, from Stanford's ultra-selective 3.68% to Colorado School of Mines' more accessible 58% rate. These suburban campuses often benefit from proximity to major metropolitan job markets while maintaining distinct campus identities. California leads with multiple entries, reflecting the state's investment in public higher education and its connection to tech industries in Silicon Valley and beyond. Virginia's flagship university demonstrates how state institutions can compete nationally, graduating 95.3% of students who earn strong salaries in the Washington D.C. corridor. The $37,370 difference between the highest and lowest net costs shows how suburban location alone doesn't determine affordability.

Schools

$23,315

Avg. Net Price

$81,722

Avg. Earnings

84.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

College listings
#	School	Setting	Enrollment	Net Price	Graduation Rate
1	Harvey Mudd College Claremont, California	Suburb-Large	915	$32,492	93.8%
2	United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, New York	Suburb-Large	947	$7,506	80.6%
3	Stanford University Stanford, California	Suburb-Large	7,841	$12,136	92.8%
4	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	Suburb-Midsize	17,315	$22,881	95.3%
5	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	Suburb-Small	21,521	$15,624	85.2%
6	Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Needham, Massachusetts	Suburb-Large	373	$20,575	92.2%
7	Babson College Wellesley, Massachusetts	Suburb-Large	2,696	$38,876	92.4%
8	Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna, Virginia	Suburb-Large	567		100.0%
9	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	Suburb-Large	30,246	$15,590	88.6%
10	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California	Suburb-Large	1,379	$27,384	95.2%
11	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	Suburb-Midsize	23,205	$13,825	85.3%
12	Binghamton University Vestal, New York	Suburb-Midsize	14,401	$21,364	83.6%
13	University of California-Davis Davis, California	Suburb-Small	31,777	$15,288	85.1%
14	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	Suburb-Large	8,923	$27,823	96.8%
15	Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado	Suburb-Large	5,801	$29,240	79.4%
16	William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia	Suburb-Small	6,949	$22,529	91.0%
17	Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina	Suburb-Midsize	22,778	$22,112	87.9%
18	Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania	Suburb-Large	7,005	$44,876	92.4%
19	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	Suburb-Large	17,420	$18,430	77.8%
20	Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, Missouri	Suburb-Large	7,897	$22,117	94.4%
21	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	Suburb-Large	6,804	$35,435	93.3%
22	Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania	Suburb-Large	1,627	$18,686	94.1%
23	Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey	Suburb-Large	4,084	$40,468	89.9%
24	Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts	Suburb-Large	2,318	$25,008	91.2%
25	Pomona College Claremont, California	Suburb-Large	1,638	$19,424	93.2%
26	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	Suburb-Large	59,095	$10,650	75.1%
27	Emory University-Oxford College Oxford, Georgia	Suburb-Large	973	$30,622	94.7%
28	Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital East Syracuse, New York	Suburb-Large	179	$22,322	69.2%
29	Davidson College Davidson, North Carolina	Suburb-Large	1,901	$18,127	91.9%
30	Hamilton College Clinton, New York	Suburb-Midsize	2,045	$28,314	91.3%
31	The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey	Suburb-Large	6,831	$25,458	85.2%
32	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	Suburb-Large	24,271	$11,580	66.7%
33	Haverford College Haverford, Pennsylvania	Suburb-Large	1,421	$25,210	89.4%
34	Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania	Suburb-Large	2,746	$32,496	88.1%
35	Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts	Suburb-Large	1,270	$26,661	79.1%
36	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	Suburb-Large	20,284	$20,470	73.4%
37	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	Suburb-Large	18,812	$16,931	78.8%
38	Island Drafting and Technical Institute Amityville, New York	Suburb-Large	53	$21,392	76.9%
39	Florida International University Miami, Florida	Suburb-Large	38,761	$9,133	73.9%
40	American University of Health Sciences Signal Hill, California	Suburb-Large	364		50.0%
41	Foothill College Los Altos Hills, California	Suburb-Large	10,922	$7,549	60.0%
42	Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	Suburb-Large	2,430	$38,182	89.1%
43	University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida	Suburb-Large	12,570	$36,803	84.2%
44	Louisiana Culinary Institute Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Suburb-Large	90	$29,765	90.5%
45	Triangle Tech Inc-Greensburg Greensburg, Pennsylvania	Suburb-Large	100	$23,919	80.0%
46	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	Suburb-Large	36,956	$5,646	69.2%
47	Scripps College Claremont, California	Suburb-Large	1,077	$38,802	87.1%
48	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	Suburb-Midsize	21,496	$17,413	75.3%
49	ITI Technical College Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Suburb-Large	513	$19,862	55.6%
50	City College-Altamonte Springs Altamonte Springs, Florida	Suburb-Large	293	$32,105	75.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Harvey Mudd College worth its $32,492 net cost?

Harvey Mudd graduates earn $138,687 annually, the highest among all suburban colleges. The 915-student engineering school maintains a 93.8% graduation rate while accepting only 13.36% of applicants. Its Claremont location provides access to a consortium of colleges and proximity to Southern California's aerospace and tech industries.

How do public suburban colleges compare to private ones in terms of value?

Public options like University of Virginia ($22,881 net cost, $86,863 earnings) and UC Davis ($15,288 net cost, $80,838 earnings) offer strong returns. The Merchant Marine Academy provides the best deal at $7,506 net cost with $90,610 graduate earnings, though it requires military service commitment.

Where can students find the most accessible admission rates?

Colorado School of Mines accepts 58% of applicants while still producing graduates earning $97,335 annually. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo admits 30.43% with $90,768 graduate earnings. University of Maryland College Park accepts 44.61% of its 30,246 applicants, making quality education more attainable.

What role do graduation rates play in suburban college selection?

Graduation rates range from 77.8% to 100% across these 998 institutions. Chamberlain University Virginia achieves a perfect 100% rate with specialized nursing programs. Notre Dame leads traditional universities at 96.8%, while larger public schools like UC Santa Barbara maintain solid 85.3% rates despite higher enrollment numbers.

How do California suburban colleges perform nationally?

California claims four of the top 15 spots, with Harvey Mudd leading in earnings, Stanford offering the lowest net cost among elite schools at $12,136, and Cal Poly providing excellent value. UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis both graduate over 85% of students while maintaining reasonable costs under $16,000 net.

Does school size affect graduate earnings in suburban settings?

Small schools often lead in earnings, with 373-student Olin College graduates earning $129,455 and 915-student Harvey Mudd topping all schools at $138,687. However, larger institutions like 30,246-student University of Maryland still produce graduates earning $82,860, proving that scale doesn't necessarily limit success.