8 Area Studies colleges in Massachusetts with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $78,195.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 7 Area Studies programs made the cut.
Harvard University leads the rankings, producing Area Studies graduates earning $101,817 while maintaining a 90th percentile mobility score. Boston University follows with $83,238 earnings and 91st percentile mobility. These outcomes prove accessibility and excellence aren't mutually exclusive.
University Of Massachusetts-Boston serves 43% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $65,865. The best schools deliver a double win: Wellesley College achieves 74th percentile mobility with just a 4% payment burden, meaning graduates keep nearly all their earnings.
Earnings: $101,817 | Mobility: 90th percentile
43% Pell students with $65,865 earnings
4% payment burden | Excellent
22% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $101,817 | — | — | — | — | 90th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | $84,803 | — | — | — | — | 72th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $83,238 | — | — | — | — | 91th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $83,214 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Manageable | 83th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $77,644 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Challenging | 62th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $71,631 | — | — | — | — | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $65,865 | $21,974 | Good | $17,163 | Challenging | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $57,346 | — | — | — | — | 77th 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
