NTU and NCKU Out of Top Five! Taiwan's Strongest University Rankings Shake Up: 'Top Graduate Earns NT$830,000 Annually,' High Salaries Drive Corporate Talent Competition

As new graduates enter peak job-hunting season and college application periods, salary has become a core indicator for young job seekers and students evaluating their futures. According to the '2026 Taiwan University Graduate Average Annual Salary Statistics' released by salary inquiry platform Bisalary, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University claimed first place with an average annual salary of NT$830,000. National Defense University unexpectedly took second place with NT$770,000, emerging as this year's biggest dark horse. National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, the leader in vocational education, ranked third with NT$760,000, while Taipei Medical University topped the monthly salary category with an average of NT$55,000, ranking fourth with an annual salary of NT$750,000. In contrast, NTU and NCKU, due to their broad range of disciplines, fell to ninth and eighth place, respectively.

University Graduate Salary Rankings Released! NYCU Surges to First with NT$830,000 Annual Income, Up NT$90,000

In this year's rankings, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University delivered the most outstanding performance, with graduate average annual salaries rising sharply from last year's NT$740,000 to NT$830,000—an increase of NT$90,000 per year, the largest growth among all schools. This translates to an average monthly salary of approximately NT$58,000.

Bisalary analyzed that NYCU's significant salary lead stems from the recent expansion of recruitment in core semiconductor industries such as IC design and wafer manufacturing, with companies competing to raise starting salaries for fresh graduates. Additionally, the university has long maintained high competitiveness in engineering disciplines like electrical and computer science, with most graduates securing positions in high-paying tech giants, thereby significantly boosting the overall average salary.

Iron Rice Bowl Plus No Unemployment Gap! National Defense University Claims Second Place with NT$770,000

NTUST and Taipei Medical University Follow Closely Behind

Surprisingly, this year's runner-up was National Defense University, with an average annual salary of NT$770,000. Experts note that most NDU graduates directly enter military service upon graduation, benefiting from clear and fixed starting salaries and various professional allowances. Moreover, they avoid the common post-graduation job-hunting gap, eliminating zero-income periods that could drag down average earnings, resulting in stable and competitive annual income.

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), ranked third with NT$760,000, has maintained a top-tier position for two consecutive years, demonstrating its leadership in vocational education. The platform highlights that NTUST students accumulate extensive industry-academia collaboration and practical experience during their studies, enabling seamless alignment with corporate needs after graduation, making them highly sought after by industries.

Taipei Medical University, ranked fourth with NT$750,000, showcases unique strengths. Although its annual salary ranks fourth, its average monthly salary of NT$55,000 is the highest among the top five, reflecting the relatively high starting salaries in healthcare and biotechnology sectors. However, due to different bonus and year-end payment structures compared to the tech industry, the annual total compensation ranking presents a different landscape.

Why Have Traditional Top Universities Fallen in Rankings? Specialized Institutions Hold a 'Salary-Pulling' Advantage Over Comprehensive Universities

In contrast to the strong performance of specialized institutions, previously top-ranked National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) dropped to ninth and eighth place this year.

Bisalary points out that while comprehensive universities like NTU and NCKU excel in academic diversity, this also means their graduates are widely distributed across various industries. Given the vast disparities in salary ceilings across sectors, average annual salaries are naturally diluted. In contrast, specialized or field-focused institutions—such as those in engineering, military, or healthcare—concentrate their graduates in specific high-paying industries, making it easier to elevate average salary figures.

New Graduates Shouldn't Judge Salaries by Monthly Pay Alone! Experts Share Two Tips to Accurately Assess Total Income

Facing complex workplace compensation structures, the salary inquiry platform warns fresh job seekers not to focus solely on monthly salary figures when evaluating job offers. Instead, they should comprehensively calculate monthly pay, year-end bonuses, quarterly dividends, and various allowances to accurately grasp the actual annual take-home 'total income.'

Additionally, to understand alumni career paths, new graduates are encouraged to use the platform's 'Alumni Center' feature to explore real employment destinations and corporate hiring preferences of past graduates, enabling early career planning and securing better starting salaries and development opportunities.