5 Public Administration colleges in Washington with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $65,883.
Most rankings ignore accessibility. We flipped the model: first, filter for schools that actually enroll and graduate low-income students (60th percentile+ mobility). Then rank by earnings. These 5 Public Administration programs made the cut.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads the rankings, producing Public Administration graduates earning $78,466 while maintaining a 96th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $65,883—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Washington State University serves 26% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,905. Even better: graduates face just a 9% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $78,466 | Mobility: 96th percentile
35% Pell students with $57,897 earnings
7% payment burden | Excellent
19% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $68,905 | $19,500 | Good | $29,968 | Challenging | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $62,569 | $18,500 | Manageable | $23,123 | High | 86th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $61,580 | $19,500 | Manageable | $22,000 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $57,897 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Challenging | 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 →
