11 Mathematics colleges in Illinois with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $68,414.
These 11 Mathematics programs in Illinois aren't just accessible—they deliver results. Each school ranks in the 60th percentile or above for social mobility, meaning they actually enroll and graduate low-income students. Then we ranked them by graduate earnings, finding schools that are both accessible AND high-performing.
University of Chicago leads the rankings, producing Mathematics graduates earning $91,885 while maintaining an 87th percentile mobility score. Northwestern University follows closely at $89,363 with 90th percentile mobility. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $68,414—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes.
University of Illinois Chicago serves 50% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,740. The affordability story is equally compelling: University of Chicago graduates face just a 3.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND manageable debt.
Earnings: $91,885 | Mobility: 87th percentile
49.6% Pell students with $68,740 earnings
3.5% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
11.2% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% 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 | 87th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $89,363 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good | 90th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $81,054 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $70,871 | $27,000 | Manageable | $47,679 | High | 82th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $68,751 | $23,168 | Excellent | $41,563 | Challenging | 86th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Manageable | $24,323 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $62,117 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | Challenging | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $57,808 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Manageable | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $56,346 | $20,500 | Challenging | $21,500 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $53,390 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | High | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $52,234 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | 81th 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 →
