Samuel Merritt University, a small school in the San Francisco Bay Area, reports that many of its graduates earn more than alumni of several more widely known universities, including Harvard and Stanford, according to one analysis highlighted by outlets.
The coverage attributes the figures to the university’s focus and the types of programs it offers, as well as its location. Because Samuel Merritt is smaller than national research universities, the story emphasizes that its employment outcomes may be easier to track and may reflect concentrated pathways into in-demand fields.
Other outlets frame the comparison differently, with the core point remaining that graduate earnings can vary substantially by institution and program mix. While the specific methodology is not fully detailed in the excerpts provided, the articles generally focus on how a school’s curriculum, career alignment, and geographic access can influence pay outcomes after graduation.
