“LSU’s College of Engineering is an integral part of the industrial community and the economic region,” stated Richard Koubek, dean of the College of Engineering. “Employers recognize that LSU engineers have a strong work ethic, are committed, mission driven and serve our local, regional and global communities.”

The top five highest-earning LSU engineering degrees are as follows:

Major	LSU Average	NACE Average
Petroleum Engineering	$87,214	$83,121
Chemical Engineering	$68,526	$64,902
Mechanical Engineering	$66,215	$58,766
Electrical Engineering	$64,600	$60,125
Civil Engineering	$54,247	$52,048

    

According to LSU Career Services, more than 90 percent of May 2008 graduates of LSU’s College of Engineering had definitive post-graduation plans by mid-May. Of the 331 engineering graduates who participated in the Spring 2008 LSU Graduating Student Survey, 77 percent were employed; 1.8 percent were in the process of evaluating employment offers; and 11.8 percent had chosen graduate or professional school as a next step.

“The LSU engineer has unique attributes of being globally aware, technically savvy, serving as a leader, holds an appreciation for diversity and possesses critical thinking and communication skills that puts them at the top of an employer’s candidate pool,” said Koubek. “LSU’s College of Engineering continues to make an economic impact in the state and region as we transform lives of students, industry and the community of Louisiana.”

Contributing to the post-graduate success of students in the college is that engineering students consistently are among the most proactive in seeking work experience through internships, cooperative education (i.e., alternating semesters of school and work), volunteerism and part-time jobs. Such experiences teach real-life skills that help students develop a healthy balance of academic and professional expertise.

For more information, contact Mimi LaValle at 225-578-5706 or mlavall@lsu.edu.
 
About Salary Survey:
Salary Survey is a quarterly report of starting salary offers to new college graduates in 70 disciplines at the bachelor’s degree level. The survey compiles data from college and university career services offices nationwide. Salary Survey is issued in winter, spring, summer and fall, with the fall issue serving as the year-end report. Salaries reported in this press release reflect offers to bachelor’s degree candidates.

About NACE: Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, has been the leading source of information about the college job market.

To read the entire article from CNN Money, visit http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/highest_starting_salaries/index.htm?postversion=2009072404.