42 Interdisciplinary Studies colleges in the Midwest with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $61,742.
We started with Interdisciplinary Studies programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 42 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
University of Notre Dame leads the rankings, producing Interdisciplinary Studies graduates earning $99,980 while maintaining an 88th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $61,742—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University of Illinois Chicago serves 50% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,740. Even better: graduates face just a 4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $99,980 | Mobility: 88th percentile
50% Pell students with $68,740 earnings
4.3% payment burden | Excellent
11.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $99,980 | $19,000 | Manageable | $40,731 | High | 87th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $87,989 | $24,000 | High | $31,458 | High | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $86,182 | $17,500 | Challenging | $24,585 | High | 85th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $83,648 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Challenging | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $81,054 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $73,792 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $69,020 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $68,751 | $23,168 | High | $41,563 | High | 86th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Good | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $67,253 | $23,250 | Manageable | $37,401 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | University Of IowaPublic | $64,762 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility |
| #12 | $63,742 | $19,509 | Challenging | $32,850 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $63,403 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $63,386 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility |
| #15 | College Of Saint BenedictPrivate | $63,260 | $26,944 | Manageable | $15,778 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility |
| #16 | $62,203 | $23,199 | Manageable | $14,621 | High | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | University Of KansasPublic | $61,945 | $21,000 | Manageable | $32,347 | High | 90th percentile mobility |
| #18 | $61,760 | $21,977 | Good | $15,000 | Manageable | 77th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | $60,409 | $19,976 | Manageable | $25,868 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | Saint Mary's CollegePrivate | $59,354 | $27,000 | High | $48,565 | High | 81th percentile mobility |
| #21 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $58,532 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,316 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #22 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $57,262 | $21,250 | High | $27,283 | High | 81th percentile mobility |
| #23 | $56,922 | $21,106 | Challenging | $13,695 | High | 74th percentile mobility | |
| #24 | $56,887 | $21,000 | Good | $25,798 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #25 | $56,346 | $20,500 | High | $21,500 | High | 89th 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 →
