Career
How to Read a College's Placement Report Critically
Average vs median, placement rate definitions and what 'highest package' really tells you.
Karan Mehta
Engineering Admissions Writer
· 9 min read
Table of contents
Average vs median, placement rate definitions and what 'highest package' really tells you.
Median beats average
A few very high offers inflate the average. The median tells you what a typical student gets.
Check the denominator
Is placement rate calculated on all students or only those who opted in?
Look at roles, not just packages
Role quality and recruiter diversity matter as much as salary numbers.
Key takeaways
- 1Median beats average
- 2Check the denominator
- 3Look at roles, not just packages
Admission rules change every cycle. Always verify requirements and dates on the official college or exam portal before applying.
Written by
Karan Mehta
Engineering Admissions Writer
Karan writes about JEE, JoSAA and engineering college choices. He is an NIT alumnus.