5 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in Maryland with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $73,214.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 5 Interdisciplinary Studies programs made the cut.
Johns Hopkins University leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $87,555 while maintaining an 87th percentile mobility score. The range spans from $61,515 to $87,555 across these mobility-focused programs—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County exemplifies the mobility mission—serving 30% Pell Grant recipients and 27% first-generation students while ranking 90th percentile for mobility. However, debt burdens vary significantly: Loyola University Maryland graduates face just 8% payment burden (good affordability), while others exceed 35%—a crucial difference for long-term financial health.
Earnings: $87,555 | Mobility: 87th percentile
33.5% Pell students with $64,390 earnings
8.3% payment burden | Good
26.2% family burden | High burden
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $87,555 | $10,250 | High | $29,048 | High | 87th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $82,652 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High | 73th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $69,960 | $19,500 | Manageable | $26,987 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | Towson UniversityPublic | $64,390 | $18,718 | Manageable | $28,489 | High | 95th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Salisbury UniversityPublic | $61,515 | $21,000 | Good | $33,815 | High | 84th 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 →
