15 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in Pennsylvania with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $70,978.
Top Interdisciplinary Studies graduates on this list earn over $114,862—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 15 programs deliver both access and results.
Carnegie Mellon University leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $114,862 while maintaining an 84th percentile mobility score. University of Pennsylvania follows at $111,371 with an impressive 88th percentile mobility rating. These outcomes prove that schools serving diverse student populations can compete at the highest levels.
Temple University serves 30% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $63,727. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: Carnegie Mellon combines 84th percentile mobility with just a 3.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability category, meaning graduates keep most of their earnings.
Earnings: $114,862 | Mobility: 84th percentile
30.1% Pell students with $63,727 earnings
3.1% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
9.3% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $114,862 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good | 84th percentile mobility |
| #2 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $111,371 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good | 88th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $93,807 | $27,000 | Good | $62,750 | High | 74th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $84,648 | $25,325 | Good | $40,932 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $76,124 | $19,000 | Manageable | $51,114 | High | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Bryn Mawr CollegePrivate | $75,217 | $25,000 | Good | $40,058 | High | 72th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $66,125 | $24,250 | Good | $35,031 | High | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Temple UniversityPublic | $63,727 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | High | 97th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $63,435 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $56,351 | $25,000 | High | $28,373 | High | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $55,246 | $23,507 | High | $29,193 | High | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $53,032 | $25,000 | Manageable | $23,528 | High | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | Chatham UniversityPrivate | $52,410 | $23,250 | High | $31,699 | High | 78th percentile mobility |
| #14 | $51,019 | $26,798 | Good | $26,073 | Challenging | 83th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $47,295 | $23,725 | Good | $17,794 | Challenging | 87th 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 →
