8 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in North Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $55,759.
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 8 Interdisciplinary Studies programs made the cut.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $72,200 while maintaining a 95th percentile mobility score. The earnings range spans from $43,407 to $72,200, proving that accessible schools can deliver strong financial outcomes for their graduates.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte serves 34% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while maintaining 96th percentile mobility. The school's graduates face a 14% payment burden, classified as 'manageable.' Meanwhile, Chapel Hill offers the strongest affordability with just a 5% burden, delivering both access and financial value.
Earnings: $72,200 | Mobility: 95th percentile
48% Pell students with $43,407 earnings
5% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
15% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $72,200 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $68,758 | $20,121 | Manageable | $23,000 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $57,289 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,809 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $54,967 | $19,500 | Manageable | $22,737 | High | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $51,836 | $20,231 | Manageable | $21,919 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $49,458 | $21,868 | High | $18,241 | High | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $48,160 | $22,858 | Manageable | $14,638 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $43,407 | $25,000 | High | $10,984 | High | 77th 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 →
