5 Social Work colleges in Massachusetts with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $60,167.
We started with Social Work programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 5 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
University Of Massachusetts-Boston leads the rankings, producing Social Work graduates earning $65,865 while maintaining a 93rd percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $60,167—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University Of Massachusetts-Boston serves 43% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $65,865. Even better: graduates face just a 12% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. These Massachusetts schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $65,865 | Mobility: 93rd percentile
43% Pell students with $65,865 earnings
10% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
20% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $65,865 | $21,974 | Manageable | $17,163 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | $63,494 | $24,840 | Good | $23,772 | Challenging | 72th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $57,466 | $24,286 | Manageable | $18,070 | High | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $57,346 | $22,457 | Good | $18,544 | Challenging | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Salem State UniversityPublic | $56,662 | $25,000 | Challenging | $21,128 | High | 82th 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 →
