Important Caveats

Institutional Participation

Earnings data is only available for graduates from institutions participating in the PSEO Coalition. States and institutions not in this coalition are not represented. A complete list of participating institutions is available in the Data section of the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program website.

Currency of Data

There is a natural lag in the availability of data, as it takes time to collect and prepare information on post-graduation outcomes. However, updates occur periodically throughout the year.

Annualized Earnings

The figures shown are annualized, not actual reported earnings, to allow consistent comparisons across time frames and graduates.

Metro Area Focus

The analysis is limited to metropolitan statistical areas, which may not reflect conditions in rural or non-metro areas.

Family Configuration

The living wage varies significantly based on household makeup. Users should be mindful of which configuration is selected (e.g., one adult with two children versus two working adults with no children).