A hawker at Plaza Singapura's Kopitam told me that fresh graduates from SMU earn a starting salary of $4,300. Is it true? Just curious?

I think you'd have to take these articles with a pinch of salt.

1. Consider how many working hours these hawkers put in
2. Fixed Costs/Variable Costs
3. Realistically, do the patrons find the food good? Are there long queues?

IMHO, more of often than not, these articles tend to omit certain facts like that (after tax salary etc.)

But still, a good starting point for interesting discussions!

there's always a range! some earn lesser some earn more. same for the other unis!