8 Architecture colleges in California with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $83,917.
We started with Architecture programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 8 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
University Of Southern California leads the rankings, producing Architecture graduates earning $92,498 while maintaining a 96th percentile mobility score. At nearly identical earnings, University Of California-Berkeley follows with $92,446 and an exceptional 99th percentile mobility rating—demonstrating that top outcomes and accessibility can coexist.
California State University-Sacramento serves 49% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $64,876. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona achieves 100th percentile mobility with just a 5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $92,498 | Mobility: 96th percentile
49% Pell students with $64,876 earnings
5% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
10% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $92,498 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $92,446 | $13,000 | Good | $28,508 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $90,768 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $89,812 | $23,000 | Excellent | $44,413 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility |
| #5 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $86,522 | $22,940 | Good | $56,559 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $82,511 | $14,000 | Challenging | $26,176 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $71,902 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $64,876 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | 100th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
