The relationships can be less direct. For example, USC is in Los Angeles; and Clemson is in South Carolina. Some of the bigger companies will recruit at both, but smaller companies often focus their recruiting at nearby schools. For example, I’d expect USC CS grads to have a notably different list of typical first companies from Clemson grads, leading to a much higher average starting salary than Clemson. However, among grads from both schools who choose to head out to SV after graduation and find a similar related job in that area, I’d expect similar very high salaries and similar very high cost of living.