Forbes ranks SCU fourth for ability to make you rich

In a recent study by Forbes magazine, Santa Clara University was ranked number four of the top 50 colleges that will make you rich.

The study did not simply look for the highest average salary after graduation. These results tend to place Ivy League universities at the top of the list. However, most students attending Ivy Leagues come from affluent backgrounds and are already expected to make a lot of money.

In this study, Forbes used a number of calculations, such as the SAT scores and the financial aid of the student body, and then compared where the average salary of students that graduated from the university to the average salary of people from a similar background. Schools that more effectively raised a graduate's chances at getting a higher salary ranked higher on the list.

The study found that the average salary for a graduate from Santa Clara 10-19 years after graduation was $110,351 and that the average annual cost of attendance, including housing, food, books and other costs was $50,556. According to the findings, 78% of the students at Santa Clara receive some sort of financial aid, while 8% receive Pell Grants.

Santa Clara placed just below Stanford University and above St. Mary's College of California on the list, although Stanford had a slightly higher annual cost while St. Mary's cost slightly less, about a $1,000 difference for each.