F1 Hire, a U.S.-based data company focusing on employment opportunities for international talent, released its F1 Hire Career Outcome University Ranking last week.

The company aims to “provide an objective benchmark of return on investment in university choices, allowing international students to better understand the financial and career outcomes linked to their education,” it said in a statement.

The ranking evaluated 275 U.S. universities using four key criteria: average salary, salary-to-tuition ratio, the ratio of international students to permanent residency (PERM) applicants, and the total number of PERM applicants. Based on these metrics, F1 Hire calculated green card approval rates and return on investment for international students.

The top five universities in the ranking are San Jose State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, Princeton University, and Central Michigan University. Notably, Central Michigan secured fifth place despite not being in the top 200 U.S. universities according to the prestigious U.S. News and World Report ranking. It ranked second in green card approval rates among the top 10.

California, home to Silicon Valley, leads the list with the most universities in the ranking. Among the top 25, the state features three public universities, two University of California (UC) campuses, and three private institutions.

Seven out of the eight Ivy League universities also made it into the top 25, namely Princeton University (4th), Harvard University (9th), Cornell University (16th), the University of Pennsylvania (19th), Dartmouth College (20th), Columbia University (21st), and Yale University (23rd).

Their higher-than-average salary levels, selective admissions, and abundant resources contribute significantly to their strong outcomes.

The specific rankings are as follows:

Launched in 2023, the F1 Hire ranking only includes universities with over 500 international students. F1 Hire CEO Andrew Chen told The PIE News that the ranking focuses on how well institutions “transform international students into green card holders sponsored by their employers.”

“As consumers of education services, international families deserve an objective benchmark before making expensive decisions about studying in the U.S.,” he said.

Chen also highlighted that many lesser-known, non-AAU universities consistently achieve positive career outcomes and deserve recognition.

For instance, Northern Illinois University, with an average incoming GPA of 3.4 out of 4, and Central Michigan University, with average SAT scores between 960 and 1210 out of 1600 and an average GPA of 3.5, were both featured. U.S. News ranks these institutions at 273rd and 259th, respectively, among public universities.

The U.S. remains the leading study-abroad destination globally, hosting over one million international students from more than 200 countries and territories. The number of Vietnamese students in the U.S. stands at approximately 21,900, placing Vietnam fifth in terms of international student enrollment.

According to U.S. News, the average cost of attending U.S. universities, including tuition and living expenses for the 2024-2025 academic year, ranges from $11,000 to $43,000.