8 Social Sciences colleges in Washington with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $69,242.
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 Social Sciences programs made the cut.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads the rankings, producing Social Sciences graduates earning $78,466 while maintaining a 96th percentile mobility score. Washington State University follows at $68,905 with 93rd percentile mobility. These outcomes prove schools serving low-income students can compete at the highest levels.
Washington State University serves 26% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while producing graduates earning $68,905. The school maintains good affordability with a 14% payment burden. University of Washington-Seattle Campus delivers an even stronger value proposition: $78,466 earnings with just a 5% payment burden, earning 'Excellent' affordability status.
Earnings: $78,466 | Mobility: 96th percentile
35% Pell students with $57,897 earnings
5.3% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
15.8% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Gonzaga UniversityPrivate | $78,892 | $24,454 | Excellent | $37,652 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility |
| #2 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | 97th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $78,466 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $75,272 | $19,883 | Excellent | $37,520 | Challenging | 77th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $68,905 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Challenging | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | $62,569 | $18,500 | Good | $23,123 | Challenging | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #8 | $61,580 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $57,897 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Manageable | 92th 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 →
