Top 40 Colleges Advancing America's Economic Progress

The Role of Higher Education in Economic Mobility

Higher education is a driving force behind every facet of America's economy. However, the increasing gap in America's wealth distribution is making it difficult for low-income individuals to access higher education. Historically, making it easier and more affordable for low-income students to attend college has been a proven pathway to upward social mobility.

The Importance of College Degrees for Social Mobility

Recent studies have shown that, "Without a college degree, a child born into a low-income family has little chance of breaking into the upper end of the income distribution." Beyond increasing social mobility, higher education has a tendency to invigorate economic prosperity across the nation.

Colleges Striving to Increase Social Mobility

A few U.S. colleges are actively working to offer greater opportunities for lower-income Americans, helping to bridge the gap in social mobility. While each student is responsible for their own pursuit of employment and success, these institutions are committed to addressing the issue of economic divergence.

The Social Mobility Index (SMI)

The Economic Social Mobility Index (ESMI) below represents the SMI, with 100 being the highest possible score. Schools can improve their rankings by lowering tuition and increasing the percentage of economically disadvantaged students (students whose family incomes are less than or equal to the national median of $48,000).

Top Colleges Advancing America's Economy

1. Montana Tech (University of Montana)

  • Location: Butte, MT
  • ESMI Score: 100
  • Tuition: $6,464
  • Median Early Career Salary: $68,400
  • Low-Income Students: 31.3%
  • Graduation Rate: 50.8%

2. Rowan University

  • Location: Glassboro, NJ
  • ESMI Score: 88
  • Tuition: $12,380
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,500
  • Low-Income Students: 70.7%
  • Graduation Rate: 70.0%

3. Florida A&M University

  • Location: Tallahassee, FL
  • ESMI Score: 78
  • Tuition: $5,785
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,600
  • Low-Income Students: 91.7%
  • Graduation Rate: 40.6%

4. California State Polytechnic University (Pomona)

  • Location: Pomona, CA
  • ESMI Score: 72
  • Tuition: $6,350
  • Median Early Career Salary: $50,500
  • Low-Income Students: 36.03%
  • Graduation Rate: 56.6%

5. California State University (Northridge)

  • Location: Northridge, CA
  • ESMI Score: 69
  • Tuition: $6,525
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,700
  • Low-Income Students: 64.59%
  • Graduation Rate: 47.9%

6. University of California (Davis)

  • Location: Davis, CA
  • ESMI Score: 69
  • Tuition: $13,895
  • Median Early Career Salary: $50,800
  • Low-Income Students: 30.66%
  • Graduation Rate: 82.3%

7. Florida International University

  • Location: Miami, FL
  • ESMI Score: 64
  • Tuition: $6,496
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,000
  • Low-Income Students: 64.18%
  • Graduation Rate: 45.8%

8. University of California (Riverside)

  • Location: Riverside, CA
  • ESMI Score: 61
  • Tuition: $12,960
  • Median Early Career Salary: $45,600
  • Low-Income Students: 42.98%
  • Graduation Rate: 68.1%

9. University of California (Berkeley)

  • Location: Berkeley, CA
  • ESMI Score: 61
  • Tuition: $12,864
  • Median Early Career Salary: $59,500
  • Low-Income Students: 18.79%
  • Graduation Rate: 91.1%

10. California State University (Stanislaus)

  • Location: Turlock, CA
  • ESMI Score: 60
  • Tuition: $6,491
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,000
  • Low-Income Students: 51.76%
  • Graduation Rate: 49.5%

11. Western Connecticut State University

  • Location: Danbury, CT
  • ESMI Score: 60
  • Tuition: $8,893
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,300
  • Low-Income Students: 75.78%
  • Graduation Rate: 44.1%

12. Stony Brook University

  • Location: Stony Brook, NY
  • ESMI Score: 60
  • Tuition: $7,995
  • Median Early Career Salary: $49,800
  • Low-Income Students: 26.61%
  • Graduation Rate: 64.8%

13. North Carolina A & T State University

  • Location: Greensboro, NC
  • ESMI Score: 59
  • Tuition: $5,422
  • Median Early Career Salary: $48,300
  • Low-Income Students: 52.14%
  • Graduation Rate: 38.3%

14. Winston-Salem State University

  • Location: Winston-Salem, NC
  • ESMI Score: 57
  • Tuition: $5,468
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,300
  • Low-Income Students: 71.97%
  • Graduation Rate: 35.6%

15. California State University (Fresno)

  • Location: Fresno, CA
  • ESMI Score: 57
  • Tuition: $6,287
  • Median Early Career Salary: $42,200
  • Low-Income Students: 46.38%
  • Graduation Rate: 50.6%

16. University of California (Los Angeles)

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • ESMI Score: 56
  • Tuition: $12,697
  • Median Early Career Salary: $50,300
  • Low-Income Students: 25.77%
  • Graduation Rate: 89.8%

17. University of California (Santa Barbara)

  • Location: Santa Barbara, CA
  • ESMI Score: 56
  • Tuition: $13,746
  • Median Early Career Salary: $47,000
  • Low-Income Students: 27.53%
  • Graduation Rate: 79.4%

18. SUNY at Albany

  • Location: Albany, NY
  • ESMI Score: 56
  • Tuition: $8,040
  • Median Early Career Salary: $46,000
  • Low-Income Students: 26.87%
  • Graduation Rate: 66.8%

19. California State University (Long Beach)

  • Location: Long Beach, CA
  • ESMI Score: 54
  • Tuition: $6,240
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,600
  • Low-Income Students: 35.22%
  • Graduation Rate: 54%

20. California State University (Bakersfield)

  • Location: Bakersfield, CA
  • ESMI Score: 54
  • Tuition: $6,775
  • Median Early Career Salary: $44,100
  • Low-Income Students: 52.94%
  • Graduation Rate: 43%

21. University of Idaho

  • Location: Moscow, ID
  • ESMI Score: 54
  • Tuition: $6,524
  • Median Early Career Salary: $46,700
  • Low-Income Students: 29.52%
  • Graduation Rate: 55.1%

22. Notre Dame of Maryland University

  • Location: Baltimore, MD
  • ESMI Score: 53
  • Tuition: $32,050
  • Median Early Career Salary: $51,000
  • Low-Income Students: 51.92%
  • Graduation Rate: 63.8%

23. University of Portland

  • Location: Portland, OR
  • ESMI Score: 52
  • Tuition: $38,670
  • Median Early Career Salary: $48,800
  • Low-Income Students: 47.66%
  • Graduation Rate: 76.6%

24. San Francisco State University

  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • ESMI Score: 51
  • Tuition: $6,450
  • Median Early Career Salary: $47,100
  • Low-Income Students: 32.89%
  • Graduation Rate: 48%

25. Howard University

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • ESMI Score: 51
  • Tuition: $22,683
  • Median Early Career Salary: $49,300
  • Low-Income Students: 43.47%
  • Graduation Rate: 69.1%

26. Western Kentucky University

  • Location: Bowling Green, KY
  • ESMI Score: 51
  • Tuition: $8,722
  • Median Early Career Salary: $40,300
  • Low-Income Students: 54.7%
  • Graduation Rate: 48.7%

27. Western Illinois University

  • Location: Macomb, IL
  • ESMI Score: 51
  • Tuition: $11,767
  • Median Early Career Salary: $42,000
  • Low-Income Students: 45.1%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%

28. San Diego State University

  • Location: San Diego, CA
  • ESMI Score: 51
  • Tuition: $6,766
  • Median Early Career Salary: $45,700
  • Low-Income Students: 20.51%
  • Graduation Rate: 66.2%

29. Florida State University

  • Location: Tallahassee, FL
  • ESMI Score: 50
  • Tuition: $6,507
  • Median Early Career Salary: $42,700
  • Low-Income Students: 23.25%
  • Graduation Rate: 73.6%

30. Northern Illinois University

  • Location: DeKalb, IL
  • ESMI Score: 50
  • Tuition: $12,976
  • Median Early Career Salary: $46,500
  • Low-Income Students: 38.04%
  • Graduation Rate: 56.4%

31. University of Houston

  • Location: Houston, TX
  • ESMI Score: 49
  • Tuition: $8,401
  • Median Early Career Salary: $51,600
  • Low-Income Students: 39.43%
  • Graduation Rate: 45.7%

32. California State University (Los Angeles)

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • ESMI Score: 49
  • Tuition: $6,344
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,600
  • Low-Income Students: 53.82%
  • Graduation Rate: 37.4%

33. Rutgers University

  • Location: New Brunswick, NJ
  • ESMI Score: 49
  • Tuition: $13,499
  • Median Early Career Salary: $51,000
  • Low-Income Students: 22.91%
  • Graduation Rate: 77%

34. University at Buffalo

  • Location: Buffalo, NY
  • ESMI Score: 49
  • Tuition: $8,211
  • Median Early Career Salary: $47,800
  • Low-Income Students: 22.91%
  • Graduation Rate: 77%

35. Wichita State University

  • Location: Wichita, KS
  • ESMI Score: 49
  • Tuition: $6,926
  • Median Early Career Salary: $42,300
  • Low-Income Students: 50.5%
  • Graduation Rate: 41.2%

36. Mississippi State University

  • Location: Mississippi State, MS
  • ESMI Score: 48
  • Tuition: $6,772
  • Median Early Career Salary: $46,800
  • Low-Income Students: 24.62%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%

37. California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo)

  • Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
  • ESMI Score: 48
  • Tuition: $8,724
  • Median Early Career Salary: $56,200
  • Low-Income Students: 11.17%
  • Graduation Rate: 72.9%

38. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  • Location: Charlotte, NC
  • ESMI Score: 48
  • Tuition: $6,107
  • Median Early Career Salary: $43,500
  • Low-Income Students: 25.25%
  • Graduation Rate: 55.2%

39. California State University (Fullerton)

  • Location: Fullerton, CA
  • ESMI Score: 47
  • Tuition: $6,186
  • Median Early Career Salary: $42,600
  • Low-Income Students: 29.54%
  • Graduation Rate: 51.4%

40. University of Florida

  • Location: Gainesville, FL
  • ESMI Score: 47
  • Tuition: $6,263
  • Median Early Career Salary: $48,800
  • Low-Income Students: 12.85%
  • Graduation Rate: 84.5%

Key Variables in the Social Mobility Index (SMI)

The relative sensitivity of the variables used to calculate the Social Mobility Index (SMI) is as follows:

  • Tuition: 126
  • Economic Background: 125
  • Graduation Rate: 66
  • Early Career Salary: 65
  • Endowment: 30

EDsmart Analysis and Insights

Economic Social Mobility Index (ESMI) Variability

The ESMI scores range from 100 (Montana Tech) to 47 (University of Florida), indicating a wide variance in how effectively different institutions promote social mobility. This suggests that some schools are significantly more successful at advancing low-income students than others.

Tuition and Accessibility

There's a notable correlation between lower tuition and higher ESMI scores. For instance, Montana Tech (ESMI 100) has a tuition of $6,464, while Florida A&M University (ESMI 78) charges only $5,785. This highlights the importance of affordability in promoting social mobility.

Low-Income Student Representation

Schools with higher percentages of low-income students tend to have higher ESMI scores. Florida A&M University, with 91.7% low-income students, and Rowan University, with 70.7%, both rank in the top three. This suggests that actively enrolling economically disadvantaged students is a key factor in promoting social mobility.

Graduation Rates

There is significant variation in graduation rates among top-ranked schools. While some, like Rowan University (70% graduation rate), perform well, others like Florida A&M University (40.6%) have lower rates. This highlights the challenge of not just enrolling low-income students but ensuring they complete their degrees.

Early Career Salaries

The data shows that higher early career salaries don’t necessarily correlate with better ESMI scores. Montana Tech, the top-ranked school, does have the highest median early career salary ($68,400), but other high-ranking schools have more modest salary figures. This suggests that while post-graduation earnings are important, they are not the sole determinant of a school’s impact on social mobility.

Geographic Distribution

California institutions are prominently represented in the top rankings, suggesting that the state's public university system may have effective policies for promoting social mobility.

Sensitivity of Variables

The data indicates that tuition and economic background are the most sensitive variables in determining the Social Mobility Index, followed by graduation rate and early career salary. This underscores the critical importance of financial accessibility in promoting social mobility through higher education.

Conclusion

The data suggests that the most effective institutions for promoting social mobility tend to combine affordable tuition, high enrollment of low-income students, and reasonable graduation rates. However, the variability in these factors among top-ranked schools indicates that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to enhancing social mobility through higher education.

Sources

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