Many people associate the South with being slow, traditional, and impoverished. Reality is, the South is increasingly becoming a Mecca for healthcare, high tech, and sciences. Let’s face it: Low cost and minimal regulation are a perfect mix to attract entrepreneurs. Just ask the Class of 2019, where four schools reported graduates averaging $150K or more to start – a better number than either the Northeast or the West. Overall, Wharton grads earned the most in the South at $154,976, followed by Harvard ($151,324), MIT Sloan ($150,455), and Stanford ($150,000) – though just three GSB students ultimately picked the South. The highest reported base in the South? That belonged to Chicago Booth at $210K, though Wharton, MIT Sloan, and North Carolina Kenan Flagler boasted graduates who also bested the $200K mark. The University of Rochester, which placed 15% of its 2019 class in the South, enjoyed the biggest base pay bump at nearly $17K over the previous year.