8 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in Massachusetts with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $92,656.
These 8 Interdisciplinary Studies programs in Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $143,372 while maintaining a 73rd percentile mobility score. At the other end, programs still deliver $63,494 in median earnings—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students compete on outcomes, not just access.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. MIT exemplifies this—73rd percentile for mobility with just a 2% payment burden, classified as 'Excellent' affordability. Harvard achieves similar results at 4.1% burden, while Boston College maintains 6.9%—all keeping graduates financially secure.
Earnings: $143,372 | Mobility: 73rd percentile
29.8% Pell students with $63,494 earnings
2.0% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
8.4% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $143,372 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | 73th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Boston CollegePrivate | $103,937 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | High | 86th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $101,817 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Manageable | 90th percentile mobility |
| #4 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $90,543 | $27,000 | Manageable | $39,032 | High | 83th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $83,238 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | High | 91th percentile mobility |
| #6 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $83,214 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | High | 83th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $71,631 | $22,763 | Manageable | $26,243 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | $63,494 | $24,840 | Challenging | $23,772 | High | 72th 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 →
