6 Legal Studies colleges in the West with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $69,574.
Top Legal Studies graduates on this list earn over $92,446—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 6 programs deliver both access and results.
At $92,446 in median earnings, University of California-Berkeley tops this list of mobility-focused programs while maintaining a 99th percentile mobility score. The school serves 27% Pell Grant recipients, proving that accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive in Legal Studies education.
University of California-Santa Cruz serves 32% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,396. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: UC Berkeley exemplifies this with 99th percentile mobility and just a 5.2% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $92,446 | Mobility: 99th percentile
32% Pell students with $68,396 earnings
5.2% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
16.3% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $92,446 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $68,396 | $16,666 | Good | $28,682 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $62,668 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $59,979 | $19,620 | Challenging | $30,126 | High | 98th percentile mobility |
| #6 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | $55,486 | $14,750 | Manageable | $9,582 | High | 94th 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 →
