23 Architecture colleges in the West with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $69,002.
Top Architecture graduates on this list earn over $92,498—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 24 programs deliver both access and results.
University of Southern California leads the rankings, producing Architecture graduates earning $92,498 while maintaining a 96th percentile mobility score. Close behind, University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $92,446 with an exceptional 99th percentile mobility rating, proving that schools serving diverse student bodies can compete at the highest levels.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $71,902. Even better: graduates face just a 7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $92,498 | Mobility: 96th percentile
46% Pell students with $71,902 earnings
4.7% payment burden | Excellent
9.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $92,498 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $92,446 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $90,768 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $89,812 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High | 84th percentile mobility |
| #5 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $86,522 | $22,940 | Good | $56,559 | High | 85th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $82,511 | $14,000 | Challenging | $26,176 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $71,902 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $69,738 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $68,905 | $19,500 | Good | $29,968 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | University Of UtahPublic | $67,170 | $19,000 | Manageable | $18,886 | High | 97th percentile mobility |
| #12 | $64,876 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Good | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $64,270 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,716 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $62,668 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $62,668 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | University Of OregonPublic | $61,324 | $20,139 | Excellent | $44,405 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility |
| #17 | $60,543 | $20,000 | Manageable | $36,000 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #18 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $59,979 | $19,620 | Good | $30,126 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility |
| #19 | $57,906 | $20,500 | Excellent | $18,859 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | $57,624 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,988 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $55,037 | $19,450 | Excellent | $20,906 | Good | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $54,022 | $14,340 | Excellent | $13,923 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility |
| #23 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $53,263 | $22,500 | Excellent | $25,000 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility |
| #24 | $44,792 | $18,450 | Good | $13,000 | Manageable | 95th 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 →
