Survey finds no correlation between private colleges and higher salaries

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A survey by the National Center for Education found no correlation between private colleges and higher salaries.

Members of the class of 2008 were surveyed. College graduates from private four-year schools earn about the same salaries as those from public four-year schools. The average graduates from 2008 earn $50,000 a year.

To earn a higher salary, pick the right major. Those students who majored in science, technology, engineering or math are paid around $65,000 a year. That's about 16 percent higher than those with other degrees.

College graduates overall earn more than non-college graduates.

Black and Asian college graduates both have unemployment rates of nearly 12 percent. The Hispanic unemployment rate of college graduates in the survey was 8.5 percent and it was 5.5 percent for white graduates.