5 Social Work colleges in New Jersey with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $66,247.
These 5 Social Work programs in New Jersey 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.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick leads the rankings, producing Social Work graduates earning $74,479 while maintaining a 99th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $66,247—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. Ramapo College Of New Jersey exemplifies this—82nd percentile for mobility with just a 9.5% payment burden, meaning graduates keep more of their earnings in the 'Good' affordability tier.
Earnings: $74,479 | Mobility: 99th percentile
44% Pell students with $61,415 earnings
9.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
24.0% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $74,479 | $21,500 | Good | $25,294 | Challenging | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Seton Hall UniversityPrivate | $70,196 | $22,750 | Good | $40,003 | High | 75th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $67,541 | $21,000 | Good | $27,655 | Challenging | 82th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $61,415 | $22,000 | Challenging | $24,693 | High | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Stockton UniversityPublic | $57,602 | $20,500 | Good | $23,182 | High | 93th 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 →
