Rankings / By State
Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota
- 33
- Schools
- $56,919
- Avg. Earnings
- 56%
- Avg. Graduation
- $18,460
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,520
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
-
Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $42,162 at the low end to $76,786 at the top. That 1.8× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
-
University of Minnesota-Morris offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $50,919 against $8,837 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
-
The most budget-friendly option on this list is University of Minnesota-Morris, at $8,837 annually in net price.
-
Completion rates separate this field: Carleton College graduates 90% of its students, well above the 56% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
-
Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Dakota County Technical College: graduates owe only 0.21× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Carleton College ($75,525 earnings), not the highest earner, Saint Johns University ($76,786). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. University of Minnesota-Morris ($8,837/yr) and Macalester College ($32,149/yr) produce graduates earning $50,919 and $63,878 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $23,312 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, University of Minnesota-Morris outperforms Saint Johns University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of Minnesota-Morris and Carleton College. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Technology is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $57K within a decade, and data scientist roles are projected to grow 36%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Carleton College #1 overall | $75,525 ▲ +33% vs avg | $25,407 | 90% | 84 |
| 2 Saint Johns University #2 overall | $76,786 ▲ +35% vs avg | $25,672 | 76% | 75 |
| 3 Macalester College #3 overall | $63,878 ▲ +12% vs avg | $32,149 | 89% | 74 |
| $65,607 ▲ +15% vs avg | $22,900 | 76% | 72 | |
| $61,511 ▲ +8% vs avg | $26,939 | 65% | 71 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota
This analysis ranks 33 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $56,919 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 56% and an average net price of $18,460.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of Minnesota-Morris — Net Price: $8,837 | Graduation Rate: 62%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Carleton College — 90% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Saint Johns University — Median alumni earnings: $76,786
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Technology Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the technology workforce?
$56,922
Median earnings (10yr)
56%
Median graduation rate
$16,863
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Technology hiring rewards ability over credentials more than any other field on this site. Toolchains turn over every few years, so computing and data-science programs compete on employer connections, project-based learning, and curriculum currency. The programs that teach fundamentals and learning agility produce the graduates who last.
The median graduation rate across these 33 schools is 56%. Median graduate earnings reach $56,922 ten years after enrollment, roughly $8,922 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $16,863 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $19,500. Some 25% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.5%.
In tech, what you can do matters more than where you studied. Graduates on this list earn a median of $56,922 ten years after enrollment. Programs with industry partnerships, co-op placements, and current curricula keep delivering through a cyclical hiring market.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Carleton College lands at #1 with a 84/100 composite, led by academic quality (91/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $75,525 a decade after enrolling, 33% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,407 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Saint Johns University lands at #2 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $76,786 a decade after enrolling, 35% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,672 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Macalester College lands at #3 with a 74/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $63,878 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $32,149 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Gustavus Adolphus College lands at #4 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $65,607 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,900 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Dunwoody College of Technology lands at #5 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $61,511 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,939 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
The College of Saint Scholastica lands at #6 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $65,934 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,846 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities lands at #7 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (55/100). Graduates earn a median $69,020 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,778 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $58,170 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,704 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Augsburg University lands at #9 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $58,829 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,873 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
University of Minnesota-Morris lands at #10 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (64/100). Graduates earn a median $50,919 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,837 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Concordia College at Moorhead lands at #11 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $59,317 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,902 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Metropolitan State University lands at #12 with a 66/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $64,705 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,863 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Minnesota-Duluth lands at #13 with a 65/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $62,616 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,743 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
St Olaf College lands at #14 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $65,543 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,874 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Saint Cloud State University lands at #15 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $55,813 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,529 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Winona State University lands at #16 with a 62/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $58,532 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,503 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
North Hennepin Community College lands at #17 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $51,142 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,186 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of St Thomas lands at #18 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (74/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $73,739 a decade after enrolling, 30% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,155 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Minnesota State University-Mankato lands at #19 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $56,922 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,139 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Minnesota State University Moorhead lands at #20 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $50,527 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,997 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
South Central College lands at #21 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $45,068 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,082 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Alexandria Technical & Community College lands at #22 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by social mobility (54/100). Graduates earn a median $49,393 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,691 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Concordia University-Saint Paul lands at #23 with a 59/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (70/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $59,871 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,462 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Normandale Community College lands at #24 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $50,207 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,972 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Dakota County Technical College lands at #25 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (55/100). Graduates earn a median $51,938 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,548 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
St Cloud Technical and Community College lands at #26 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $46,874 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,635 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Southwest Minnesota State University lands at #27 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $51,342 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,291 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
University of Northwestern-St Paul lands at #28 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (76/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $50,755 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,705 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Anoka-Ramsey Community College lands at #29 with a 57/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $48,342 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,434 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Minnesota State Community and Technical College lands at #30 with a 57/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (50/100). Graduates earn a median $45,591 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,556 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Rochester Community and Technical College lands at #31 with a 56/100 composite, led by value per dollar (71/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $45,287 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,435 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Central Lakes College-Brainerd lands at #32 with a 56/100 composite, led by value per dollar (74/100) and pulled down by social mobility (48/100). Graduates earn a median $42,162 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,869 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Lake Superior College lands at #33 with a 53/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (45/100). Graduates earn a median $46,449 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,492 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 33 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Data Scientists and related roles — a field with $108,020 median pay and 36% projected growth.
See the Data Scientist career guide →When considering a degree in data science, prospective students often turn to the best programs available in their state. Minnesota has a variety of schools that offer solid data science programs, each with unique strengths and outcomes. In this list, you'll find 33 institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to preparing students for careers in this in-demand field.
The schools featured here stand out not just for their academic offerings but for the tangible outcomes they provide. Key metrics such as post-graduation earnings, graduation rates, student debt, and overall program concentration help illuminate which programs truly equip their graduates for success. As you explore the list below, keep these outcomes in mind to find the right fit for your academic and financial goals.
Take Carleton College and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, for example. Carleton leads with impressive earnings of $75,525 and a graduation rate of 90%, but it comes with a higher net price of $25,407. In contrast, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, while still strong, offers slightly lower earnings at $69,020 and a graduation rate of 85% with a more manageable net price of $16,778. This difference highlights the trade-offs you might consider when choosing among these top programs.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 9 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Saint Johns University leads the group at 2.7%, with The College of Saint Scholastica (2.2%) and Dunwoody College of Technology (1.4%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 3.7% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Macalester College enrolls the most, at 4.8%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 31.7% across the list, peaking at 52.9% at Carleton College.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Carleton College is highest at 1.78.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Comparing the data from Carleton College and Metropolitan State University reveals stark contrasts in outcomes. While Carleton boasts graduation rates as high as 90%, Metropolitan State only reaches 42%. This disparity could be a significant consideration for students who prioritize completion rates alongside financial factors, as students at Carleton also see higher average earnings of $75,525 compared to Metropolitan's $64,705.
After reviewing these schools, it’s vital to reflect on your own priorities. Consider how much you value graduation rates versus potential earnings, and how financial aid may impact your decision. Look at factors like campus culture, location, and available resources that align with your career aspirations. Finding a balance between these metrics and your personal preferences will be key as you narrow down your options.
Ultimately, the data highlights the importance of choosing a college that aligns with the long-term goal of financial stability. A degree from a strong program can pave the way to a successful career, yet it requires careful consideration of the associated costs and outcomes. Each choice carries weight, and understanding these metrics can help your family make an informed decision that supports your future aspirations.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota ranking? +
Carleton College in Northfield, MN ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $75,525 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 90% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Saint Johns University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $76,786 ten years after enrollment, well above the $56,919 average across the 33 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of Minnesota-Morris leads: graduates earn a median $50,919 against net price of about $8,837 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Carleton College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 90%, compared with a 56% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $18,460 a year across the 33 ranked schools with cost data. University of Minnesota-Morris is among the most affordable at roughly $8,837. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 33 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Related Rankings
