I question publication accuracy of your list of highest starting salaries for college graduates. Today's Arizona Republic/USA TODAY (Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014), published story listing U.S. Naval Academy graduates at #2 ($64,800) starting salary, but graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at #5 ($55,400) starting salary. Attributed to College Factual, this information is incorrect, greatly misleading and does a disservice to your readers and the public; the correct information is publicly available and does not require advanced math. The pay scales/rates for “all” military officers (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard) are the same--a standard rate across services, depending on someone’s years of service. Graduates of the four military (service) academies are given active-duty service time (or credit) for their four years of schooling and, thus, their starting pay (base salary) is $3,655.50 per month vice an entry (or base) pay level of $2,905.20 given to other beginning (first year) officers, regardless of service (Army, Navy, USAF, etc.). In other words, they each received $43,866 per year. All officers also get an additional $13.20 (unmarried rate) for housing and $246.24 for food, for a total monthly compensation of $6,979.28. See the attached 2014 Department of Defense pay scale list. While specialty pay, such as sea duty or flight pay, "may" increase one's salary, such additional pay is not part of basic pay, but depends of personal circumstances such as additional training (such as aviation school) for which one must qualify or be assigned (such as “sea duty”).