Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Mobility (2026)
Updated
Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Mobility ranks 227 colleges in the United States by median earnings of all students ten years after entry. Schools first had to sit at or above the 60th percentile on Azimuth's mobility pillar; those that qualified are ordered by the school's median earnings of all students ten years after entry, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads the list with median earnings of $143,372 ten years after entry, followed by Bentley University at $120,959 and Carnegie Mellon University at $114,862. Across the listed schools, the median earnings figure is $57,602, with a range from $143,372 to $38,924.
Public institutions account for 84% of the list, or 191 of the 227 schools. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College posts the lowest average net price at $3,033.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College reports an average net price of $607 for families earning under $30,000.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 10 years after entry | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Pell share | Mobility percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA | $143,372 | $20,111 | -$2,533* | 19.3% | 71st |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports median earnings of $143,372 for all students ten years after entry, the highest figure on this list. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) | ||||||
| 2 | Bentley University · Waltham, MA | $120,959 | $37,930 | $21,196 | 16.1% | 74th |
| Bentley University sits at the 74th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $37,930. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($105,183) | ||||||
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $114,862 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 16.0% | 83rd |
| With a Pell share of 16%, Carnegie Mellon University ranks 3rd on this list and shows median earnings of $114,862 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (26 graduates) | ||||||
| 4 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $103,494 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 10.1% | 83rd |
| Georgetown University carries an average net price of $5,064 for families earning under $30,000 and lands at the 83rd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($112,722) | ||||||
| 5 | Yale University · New Haven, CT | $100,533 | $23,777 | $17,633 | 20.4% | 81st |
| Yale University reports a Pell share of 20% alongside median earnings of $100,533 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (16 graduates) | ||||||
| 6 | Villanova University · Villanova, PA | $100,423 | $43,756 | $17,823 | 12.0% | 71st |
| Villanova University ranks 6th on this list, with an average net price of $43,756 and a Pell share of 12%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,181) | ||||||
| 7 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $99,980 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 13.7% | 87th |
| University of Notre Dame posts median earnings of $99,980 ten years after entry and an average net price of $7,244 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($60,369) | ||||||
| 8 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $91,885 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 15.3% | 86th |
| An average net price of $14,860 coincides with an 86th percentile rank on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions for University of Chicago. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (20 graduates) | ||||||
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $90,768 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 19.2% | 94th |
| A public university in San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports median earnings of $90,768 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (107 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($68,171) | ||||||
| 10 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $89,363 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 18.6% | 89th |
| Northwestern University shows an average net price of $1,764 for families earning under $30,000 and a Pell share of 19%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | ||||||
| 11 | Providence College · Providence, RI | $87,054 | $48,523 | $28,152 | 13.4% | 60th |
| Providence College ranks 11th on this list and reports median earnings of $87,054 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($62,111) | ||||||
| 12 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $86,522 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 20.9% | 75th |
| University of San Diego sits at the 75th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a Pell share of 21%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (26 graduates) | ||||||
| 13 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $85,569 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 21.4% | 74th |
| Fordham University, a private nonprofit university in Bronx, reports median earnings of $85,569 for all students ten years after entry and sits at the 74th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (17 graduates) | ||||||
| 14 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $84,648 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 26.8% | 89th |
| Drexel University ranks 14th on this list, with an average net price of $38,509 and a Pell share of 27%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($84,166) | ||||||
| 15 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $83,648 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 18.1% | 97th |
| A public institution in Ann Arbor, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor posts median earnings of $83,648 ten years after entry and an average net price of $1,043 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($67,859) | ||||||
| 16 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $82,939 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 20.3% | 72nd |
| Pepperdine University ranks 16th on this list and reports median earnings of $82,939 for all students ten years after entry, alongside a Pell share of 20%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (12 graduates) | ||||||
| 17 | New York University · New York, NY | $82,509 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 17.9% | 93rd |
| At the 93rd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, New York University reports an average net price of $16,977 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (549 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($66,502) | ||||||
| 18 | Emory University · Atlanta, GA | $80,137 | $22,585 | $7,363 | 18.2% | 86th |
| Emory University in Atlanta reports median earnings of $80,137 ten years after entry and an average net price of $22,585. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (8 graduates) | ||||||
| 19 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $78,988 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 35.2% | 98th |
| San Jose State University ranks 19th on this list, with a Pell share of 35% and median earnings of $78,988 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (56 graduates) | ||||||
| 20 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $78,466 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 14.9% | 95th |
| A public institution in Seattle, University of Washington-Seattle Campus sits at the 95th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($46,844) | ||||||
| 21 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $78,349 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 13.2% | 60th |
| Loyola Marymount University reports median earnings of $78,349 ten years after entry and an average net price of $48,381. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (19 graduates) | ||||||
| 22 | Rochester Institute of Technology · Rochester, NY | $76,571 | $34,906 | $24,680 | 27.2% | 80th |
| Rochester Institute of Technology ranks 22nd on this list, with a Pell share of 27% and median earnings of $76,571 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (92 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($63,845) | ||||||
| 23 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $76,343 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 30.1% | 98th |
| At the 98th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, George Mason University reports an average net price of $11,942 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (321 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($61,100) | ||||||
| 24 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · New York, NY | $75,971 | $3,033 | $607 | 56.9% | 98th |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks 24th on this list, with a Pell share of 57% and an average net price of $3,033. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) | ||||||
| 25 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $75,790 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 32.1% | 98th |
| Brigham Young University, a private nonprofit university in Provo, reports median earnings of $75,790 for its students ten years after entry and sits at the 98th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (34 graduates) | ||||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools first had to sit at or above the 60th percentile on Azimuth's mobility pillar; those that qualified are ordered by the school's median earnings of all students ten years after entry, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The figure is the median earnings of all federally aided students at each institution, measured ten years after entry for those working and not enrolled. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bentley University is $22,413, with the top figure at $143,372 and the bottom at $38,924 across the 227 schools listed.