10 Liberal Arts colleges in Illinois with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $63,987.
Top Liberal Arts graduates on this list earn over $91,885—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 9 programs deliver both access and results.
University Of Chicago leads the rankings, producing Liberal Arts graduates earning $91,885 while maintaining an 87th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $61,167—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can 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. DePaul University exemplifies this—86th percentile for mobility with just a 6.5% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings.
Earnings: $91,885 | Mobility: 87th percentile
53.8% Pell students with $52,234 earnings
6.5% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
19.9% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $91,885 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Good | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $89,363 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good | 89th percentile mobility |
| #3 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $68,751 | $23,168 | Excellent | $41,563 | Manageable | 85th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $62,117 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $58,169 | $18,618 | Good | $13,991 | Manageable | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $57,808 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $54,163 | $25,251 | Good | $20,764 | Challenging | 70th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $53,390 | $21,543 | Manageable | $19,500 | High | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $52,234 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $51,989 | $21,500 | Good | $17,781 | Challenging | 71th 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
