80 Communication colleges in the Northeast with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $66,877.
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 80 programs deliver both access and results.
University of Pennsylvania leads the rankings, producing Communication graduates earning $111,371 while maintaining an 88th percentile mobility score. Cornell University follows at $104,043 with a 94th percentile mobility rating, proving that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. Cornell University exemplifies this—94th percentile for mobility with just a 3.3% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $111,371 | Mobility: 88th percentile
25.2% Pell students with $84,648 earnings
3.3% 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 | Good | 88th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $105,584 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable | 79th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $104,043 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Boston CollegePrivate | $103,937 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $102,051 | — | — | — | — | 77th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $100,423 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Manageable | 72th percentile mobility |
| #7 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $93,487 | — | — | — | — | 83th percentile mobility |
| #8 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $92,538 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable | 60th percentile mobility |
| #9 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $85,569 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Manageable | 74th percentile mobility |
| #10 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $84,648 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility |
| #11 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $83,238 | $23,250 | Excellent | $39,000 | Manageable | 91th percentile mobility |
| #12 | New York UniversityPrivate | $82,509 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility |
| #13 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $79,164 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Challenging | 82th percentile mobility |
| #14 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrivate | $77,449 | — | — | — | — | 60th percentile mobility |
| #15 | $76,571 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | $75,971 | $11,512 | Excellent | $20,000 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $74,502 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility |
| #18 | $74,479 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Manageable | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | $73,997 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,324 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | Saint Anselm CollegePrivate | $73,371 | $27,000 | Excellent | $59,736 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #21 | $73,323 | $23,250 | Excellent | $30,611 | Challenging | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | $71,631 | $22,763 | Good | $26,243 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #23 | University At BuffaloPublic | $70,814 | $19,000 | Excellent | $20,734 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility |
| #24 | Pace UniversityPrivate | $70,378 | $23,250 | Excellent | $46,275 | Challenging | 61th percentile mobility |
| #25 | Seton Hall UniversityPrivate | $70,196 | $22,750 | Excellent | $40,003 | Challenging | 74th 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 →
