30 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in California with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $77,087.
Top Interdisciplinary Studies graduates on this list earn over $124,080—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 28 programs deliver both access and results.
Stanford University leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $124,080 while maintaining a 91st percentile mobility score. University of Southern California follows with $92,498 earnings and an exceptional 96th percentile mobility ranking, demonstrating that accessible schools can compete on outcomes.
University of California-Irvine serves 37% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $80,735. Even better: graduates across this list typically face excellent affordability, with payment burdens under 8% of discretionary income. These schools deliver both access AND manageable debt.
Earnings: $124,080 | Mobility: 91st percentile
37% Pell students with $80,735 earnings
1.9% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
7.4% family burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | $138,687 | — | — | — | — | 62th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $124,080 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $109,183 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Good | 74th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $92,498 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $92,446 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $90,768 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $84,943 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Good | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $82,939 | $23,510 | Good | $41,309 | Challenging | 73th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $82,511 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Excellent | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $80,838 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Manageable | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $80,735 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Manageable | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $78,445 | $19,500 | Excellent | $50,438 | Excellent | 70th percentile mobility |
| #13 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $78,349 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High | 61th percentile mobility |
| #14 | Occidental CollegePrivate | $75,951 | $23,000 | Excellent | $51,450 | Challenging | 72th percentile mobility |
| #15 | $74,915 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | $71,902 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Manageable | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $70,070 | — | — | — | — | 61th percentile mobility |
| #18 | $68,396 | $16,666 | Excellent | $28,682 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | $68,077 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | $67,699 | $17,500 | Excellent | $18,275 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $64,909 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Challenging | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | $64,876 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #23 | $64,403 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #24 | $64,368 | $16,144 | Excellent | $18,376 | Manageable | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #25 | $64,172 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | 95th 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 →
