54 Engineering colleges in the Midwest with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $62,772.
These 54 Engineering programs aren't just accessible—they deliver results. Each school ranks in the 60th percentile or above for social mobility, meaning they actually enroll and graduate low-income students. Then we ranked them by graduate earnings, finding schools that are both accessible AND high-performing.
University of Notre Dame leads the rankings, producing Engineering graduates earning $99,980 while maintaining an 88th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $62,772—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Northwestern University exemplifies the double win: 90th percentile for mobility with just a 2.9% payment burden, meaning graduates keep most of their earnings. The school serves 19% Pell students and maintains 'Excellent' affordability—proving access and financial outcomes align perfectly.
Earnings: $99,980 | Mobility: 88th percentile
24% Pell students with $81,054 earnings
2.9% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
8.7% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $99,980 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable | 87th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $89,363 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent | 90th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $87,989 | $24,000 | Excellent | $31,458 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $86,182 | $17,500 | Excellent | $24,585 | Good | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $83,648 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $82,957 | $23,250 | Excellent | $30,462 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $81,054 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $78,257 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Challenging | 80th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $78,198 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $73,792 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $72,424 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $71,530 | $24,157 | Excellent | $54,045 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #13 | $69,020 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Good | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Good | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $67,253 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | University Of IowaPublic | $64,762 | $22,500 | Excellent | $27,975 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility |
| #17 | $63,552 | $22,057 | Excellent | $14,269 | Good | 77th percentile mobility | |
| #18 | $63,403 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $63,386 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility |
| #20 | $62,616 | $22,024 | Excellent | $22,127 | Good | 81th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $62,203 | $23,199 | Excellent | $14,621 | Good | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | University Of KansasPublic | $61,945 | $21,000 | Excellent | $32,347 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility |
| #23 | $61,760 | $21,977 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | 77th percentile mobility | |
| #24 | $60,409 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #25 | $59,649 | $22,500 | Excellent | $16,132 | Good | 90th 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 →
