NTU and NCKU Drop Out of Top 5! 2026 University Graduate Salary Rankings Revealed – This School's Fresh Graduates Earn an Average of NT$830,000 to Claim the Top Spot

Every June and July marks the peak season for graduate job hunting in Taiwan. Salary comparison platform 'Bisxinshui' (BiXinShui) has released its 2026 rankings of average annual salaries for university graduates, and the results have overturned many people's expectations. Surprisingly, National Taiwan University (NTU), long regarded as the nation's top institution, did not claim the top spot.

The Facebook fan page 'Electronic Design Elite Group' shared the top 10 list for starting salaries among university graduates in Taiwan. NTU dropped to 9th place, while National Defense University unexpectedly rose to 2nd with an average monthly salary of NT$53,000 and an average annual salary of NT$770,000.

According to the statistics, the average starting salaries for university graduates are as follows:

1st: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University – average annual salary NT$830,000 2nd: National Defense University – average annual salary NT$770,000 3rd: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology – average annual salary NT$760,000 4th: Taipei Medical University – average annual salary NT$750,000 5th: National Tsing Hua University – average annual salary NT$730,000 6th: Chung Shan Medical University – average annual salary NT$720,000 7th: Chang Gung University – average annual salary NT$710,000 8th: National Cheng Kung University – average annual salary NT$700,000 9th: National Taiwan University – average annual salary NT$690,000 10th: China Medical University – average annual salary NT$680,000

Top 10 average starting salaries for 2026 university graduates in Taiwan. (AI-generated image)

Semiconductor Talent Competition Boosts Salaries – NYCU Sees NT$90,000 Increase

According to Bisxinshui, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's average annual salary rose from NT$740,000 last year to NT$830,000 this year—an increase of NT$90,000, the largest gain on the list. This translates to an average monthly salary of NT$58,000.

The surge is attributed to expanded recruitment in the semiconductor industry, particularly in IC design and wafer manufacturing, where companies are offering higher starting salaries to attract fresh talent. NYCU, known for its strengths in electrical engineering and computer science, sees many of its graduates entering high-paying technical roles, thereby lifting the overall average.

National Defense University's rise to 2nd place is explained by Bisxinshui as a result of graduates entering the military system immediately after graduation. With a clear salary and allowance structure and no job-hunting gap, the average annual income is naturally higher.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), ranked 3rd with an average of NT$760,000, belongs to the vocational education system. Students gain practical industry project experience during their studies, allowing them to seamlessly transition into corporate roles. This has enabled NTUST to rank in the top tier for two consecutive years.

The drop of NTU and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) to 9th and 8th place, respectively, surprised many. Bisxinshui analyzed that comprehensive universities have diverse departments spread across various industries, while specialized institutions are concentrated in high-paying sectors, thus inflating their average salaries.

Experts recommend that job-seeking graduates use the 'Alumni Center' feature on the platform to research where alumni have been hired and their job preferences, enabling earlier and more strategic career planning.