22 Philosophy colleges in California with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $71,996.
These 22 Philosophy programs 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 Southern California leads the rankings, producing Philosophy graduates earning $92,498 while maintaining a 96th percentile mobility score. Close behind, University Of California-Berkeley hits $92,446 with an exceptional 99th percentile mobility rating. Average graduate earnings across this list reach $71,996—proving schools serving low-income students compete on outcomes.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona serves 46% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $71,902. The affordability story gets even better: University Of Southern California graduates face just a 3.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $92,498 | Mobility: 96th percentile
46% Pell students with $71,902 earnings
3.4% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
10.3% family burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $92,498 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $92,446 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $89,812 | $23,000 | Manageable | $44,413 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $84,943 | $15,500 | High | $24,257 | High | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $82,511 | $14,000 | Good | $26,176 | High | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $80,838 | $13,000 | Manageable | $25,733 | High | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $80,735 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Challenging | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $78,349 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High | 71th percentile mobility |
| #9 | $74,915 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $71,902 | $16,000 | Good | $15,000 | Challenging | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $68,396 | $16,666 | Manageable | $28,682 | High | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $68,077 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $67,699 | $17,500 | Good | $18,275 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $64,909 | $15,000 | Good | $25,565 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $64,876 | $15,000 | Manageable | $16,507 | High | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #16 | $64,403 | $14,289 | Good | $15,177 | High | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #17 | $64,172 | $16,552 | High | $17,585 | High | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #18 | $62,951 | $13,750 | Challenging | $16,538 | High | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #19 | $61,504 | $26,063 | High | $31,387 | High | 75th percentile mobility | |
| #20 | $61,244 | $14,505 | High | $12,050 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #21 | $59,115 | $13,872 | Good | $13,522 | Challenging | 100th percentile mobility | |
| #22 | $47,626 | $18,000 | High | $18,257 | High | 87th 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 →
