21 Biological Sciences colleges in Massachusetts with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $81,071.
We started with Biological Sciences programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 16 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
At $143,372 in median earnings, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining a 73rd percentile mobility score. The earnings range spans from $52,349 to $143,372, demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can deliver exceptional outcomes.
Mcphs University serves 28% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $125,557. However, debt burdens vary significantly: MIT graduates face just a 5% payment burden (Excellent affordability), while Mcphs reaches 36%. Smart program selection matters for long-term financial health.
Earnings: $143,372 | Mobility: 73rd percentile
36% Pell students with $68,804 earnings
4.9% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
13.8% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $143,372 | — | — | — | — | 71th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Mcphs UniversityPrivate | $125,557 | — | — | — | — | 73th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Boston CollegePrivate | $103,937 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $103,470 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Challenging | 61th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $101,817 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Excellent | 90th percentile mobility |
| #6 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $92,538 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable | 60th percentile mobility |
| #7 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $90,543 | $27,000 | Excellent | $39,032 | Manageable | 83th percentile mobility |
| #8 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | $84,803 | $10,000 | Excellent | $38,825 | Challenging | 72th percentile mobility |
| #9 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $83,238 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | Challenging | 91th percentile mobility |
| #10 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $83,214 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Manageable | 83th percentile mobility |
| #11 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $77,644 | — | — | — | — | 62th percentile mobility |
| #12 | $71,631 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $68,804 | $25,000 | Good | $22,757 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $65,865 | $21,974 | Excellent | $17,163 | Manageable | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $64,874 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | Good | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | $63,494 | $24,840 | Excellent | $23,772 | Manageable | 70th percentile mobility |
| #17 | $57,466 | $24,286 | Good | $18,070 | Manageable | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #18 | $57,346 | $22,457 | Excellent | $18,544 | Manageable | 77th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | Salem State UniversityPublic | $56,662 | $25,000 | Excellent | $21,128 | Manageable | 75th percentile mobility |
| #20 | $53,874 | $24,239 | Excellent | $16,500 | Manageable | 61th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $52,349 | $25,000 | Good | $20,284 | Manageable | 73th 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 →
