8 Social Sciences colleges in Minnesota with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $64,412.
These 5 Social Sciences 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 Minnesota-Twin Cities leads the rankings, producing Social Sciences graduates earning $69,020 while maintaining a 95th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $62,070—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities exemplifies this—95th percentile for mobility with just a 9.5% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings while others face burdens over 78%.
Earnings: $69,020 | Mobility: 95th percentile
23.5% Pell students with $58,532 earnings
9.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
21.2% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carleton CollegePrivate | $75,525 | $16,750 | Excellent | $31,271 | Good | 62th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $69,020 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | St Olaf CollegePrivate | $65,543 | $26,000 | Good | $40,568 | High | 61th percentile mobility |
| #4 | Macalester CollegePrivate | $63,878 | $23,000 | Excellent | $36,129 | Manageable | 62th percentile mobility |
| #5 | College Of Saint BenedictPrivate | $63,260 | $26,944 | Good | $15,778 | Manageable | 79th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $62,616 | $22,024 | Good | $22,127 | Challenging | 80th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $58,532 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging | 73th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $56,922 | $21,106 | Excellent | $13,695 | Manageable | 73th 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 →
