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Michael Sippey ’90, a consultant to Twitter; Bharat Mediratta ’92, distinguished software engineer at Google; and Julian Farrior ’93, founder and chief executive officer of Backflip Studios (left to right) speak at the launch of the �þ���Ƶ Digital Media and Technology Professional Network.

The value of a �þ���Ƶ education is evident through the alumni success stories that ripple through multiple career fields. One more indicator of the power of a �þ���Ƶ degree is a survey released today that examines the return on investment at 911 colleges and universities.

�þ���Ƶ was ranked sixth among 139 liberal arts institutions in the PayScale that examined the total cost of attending each school and alumni earnings.

�þ���Ƶ’s 6.5 percent return on investment and its 90 percent graduation rate were among the factors that ranked it higher than schools such as Union College, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury.

Only employees with a bachelor’s degree were included in the survey, meaning that highly selective schools like �þ���Ƶ that have a large number of alumni with advanced degrees are not fully represented.

PayScale also examined salaries, and in that area �þ���Ƶ was among all universities and colleges included in the study, tied with Yale University.

�þ���Ƶ alumni had a $51,800 average starting salary, and an average mid-career salary of $117,000, according to the survey.

“We measure success in a lot of ways at �þ���Ƶ,” said Michael Sciola, associate vice president for advancement and director of career services. “Our alumni make a difference in the world and contribute in so many ways. Of course, being at the top of the rankings of ROI shows that others value what �þ���Ƶ alumni bring to the world, as well.”

�þ���Ƶ and its Center for Career Services work hard to help seniors transition to post-�þ���Ƶ life by teaching them about the realities of the workplace through programming  such as Real World, a year-long series for seniors that facilitates alumni networking, class unity, and discussions about life-after-�þ���Ƶ-skills.

Real World, and career services in general, offers internships, courses, mock-interviews, and counseling for current students.

“�þ���Ƶ is doing a great job of adjusting the way they prepare their students with changes in the economy,” said Kelly Henderson ’09, who participates in Real World. “I couldn’t praise career services more for all they do for current students and alumni – who are really just students for life. �þ���Ƶ truly teaches students to be lifelong learners and masters of adaptation.”

Working together, career services and the Office of Alumni Relations have created seven professional networks that support undergraduate professional development, promote alumni engagement with �þ���Ƶ, and cultivate new professional opportunities for members.

The networks are the Real Estate Council, �þ���Ƶ Entertainment Group, Finance and Banking Network, Digital Media and Technology Network, Entrepreneur Network, Health and Wellness Network and the Common Good Network. An eighth network, the �þ���Ƶ Lawyers Association, is under development.