15 Social Sciences colleges in Illinois with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $66,138.
Top Social Sciences graduates on this list earn over $91,885—and these schools actually serve the students who need them most. With mobility scores at the 60th percentile or above, these 15 programs deliver both access and results.
University Of Chicago leads the rankings, producing Social Sciences graduates earning $91,885 while maintaining an 87th percentile mobility score. Northwestern University follows at $89,363 with a 90th percentile mobility rating, proving that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes across a $66,138 average.
University Of Illinois Chicago serves 50% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,740. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: University Of Chicago graduates face just an 8.3% payment burden with 'Excellent' affordability, meaning they keep more of their $91,885 earnings.
Earnings: $91,885 | Mobility: 87th percentile
49.6% Pell students with $68,740 earnings
8.3% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
20.7% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% 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 | Excellent | 86th percentile mobility |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $89,363 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable | 89th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $81,054 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $71,530 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High | 76th percentile mobility |
| #5 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $70,871 | — | — | — | — | 81th percentile mobility |
| #6 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $68,751 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High | 85th percentile mobility |
| #7 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $62,117 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | High | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $61,825 | $26,158 | Good | $35,000 | Challenging | 72th percentile mobility |
| #10 | $57,808 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $56,346 | $20,500 | Good | $21,500 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $54,163 | $25,251 | Manageable | $20,764 | Challenging | 70th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $53,390 | $21,543 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging | 88th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $52,234 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Good | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $51,989 | $21,500 | Excellent | $17,781 | Manageable | 71th 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 →
