7 Liberal Arts colleges in Michigan with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $61,930.
Top Liberal Arts graduates on this list earn over $83,648—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 7 programs deliver both access and results.
University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads the rankings, producing Liberal Arts graduates earning $83,648 while maintaining a 97th percentile mobility score. Michigan State University follows at $67,253 with an even stronger 98th percentile mobility rating, proving that schools serving low-income students compete on outcomes.
University Of Michigan-Dearborn serves 44% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $59,649. The affordability picture varies: Wayne State University graduates face just a 7% payment burden (excellent affordability), while others reach challenging levels. Smart selection matters for debt outcomes.
Earnings: $83,648 | Mobility: 97th percentile
43.9% Pell students with $59,649 earnings
6.8% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
12.8% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $83,648 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $67,253 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $59,649 | $22,500 | Good | $16,132 | Challenging | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $58,612 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Manageable | 88th percentile mobility |
| #5 | $56,118 | $24,500 | Good | $26,392 | High | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Ferris State UniversityPublic | $54,735 | $21,000 | Good | $14,849 | Manageable | 84th percentile mobility |
| #7 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $53,493 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Manageable | 95th 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 →
