17 Communication colleges in Pennsylvania with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $67,628.
Top Communication graduates on this list earn over $111,371—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 17 programs deliver both access and results.
At $111,371 in median earnings, University Of Pennsylvania tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining an 88th percentile mobility score. The earnings range spans from $47,295 to $111,371, proving that accessibility doesn't mean compromising on graduate outcomes.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. University Of Pennsylvania exemplifies this—88th percentile for mobility with just a 3.9% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings in the 'Excellent' affordability category.
Earnings: $111,371 | Mobility: 88th percentile
30.1% Pell students with $63,727 earnings
3.9% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
13.4% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $111,371 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $105,584 | $21,960 | High | $42,245 | High | 81th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $100,423 | $25,874 | Good | $40,000 | High | 74th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $84,648 | $25,325 | Challenging | $40,932 | High | 89th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $69,107 | $25,455 | Good | $48,779 | High | 80th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $66,125 | $24,250 | Good | $35,031 | High | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | Temple UniversityPublic | $63,727 | $24,395 | Manageable | $36,495 | High | 97th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $63,435 | $25,000 | Challenging | $38,368 | High | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | Saint Vincent CollegePrivate | $59,982 | $27,000 | Manageable | $43,823 | High | 75th percentile mobility |
| #10 | $56,351 | $25,000 | Manageable | $28,373 | High | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $56,148 | $24,218 | Manageable | $25,252 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $55,246 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $53,775 | $26,000 | Challenging | $26,389 | High | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $53,032 | $25,000 | Challenging | $23,528 | High | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $52,416 | $26,000 | Manageable | $26,233 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | $51,019 | $26,798 | Manageable | $26,073 | High | 83th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | $47,295 | $23,725 | Manageable | $17,794 | High | 87th 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 →
