We suspect some statistical shakiness there because of the small sample of MBAs. But it could also reflect industry's emphasis on business issues over basic research or longer-term laboratory-engineering projects-two areas where you'd expect to find PhDs. Ask what your employers would seem most interested in today: tackling time-to-market, cost and market issues? Or researching quantum-well technology?

We thought so.

This year's survey sample is one of the best educated ever. The number of MSEEs (222) is fast approaching the number of BSEEs (249) as the bigger companies such as Intel target master's candidates over bachelor's. For years now, most of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's engineers have graduated with masters' degrees. Higher education does pay, as MSEEs collect a mean salary of $69,600 vs. $61,200 for BSEEs.

Computer science grads are faring well. BSCS degree holders earn an average of $65,400, while those with MAs earn $70,100. In the last two years, the National Association of Colleges and Employers has noticed that the most in-demand graduates have been computer- engineering and computer-science people. A wide cross-section of the industry scouts these people for their MIS and data-processing departments. Consulting firms are key recruiters, and the big computer companies such as IBM want these graduates for their booming services units. More businesses are offloading their MIS chores to Unisys, Digital Equipment and EDS.

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