# Best Social Mobility Colleges for Computer Science

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-07-13 | Schools: 50 | Category: Social Mobility
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-computer-science

## Methodology

Ranked by social mobility with program concentration in Computer Science & IT

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right college for computer science can feel overwhelming, especially when considering social mobility. This list highlights schools that excel at helping students from diverse backgrounds achieve upward mobility through their computer science programs. With average earnings for graduates reaching $90,209, these institutions represent a pathway to success.

The strongest schools on this list differentiate themselves through impressive graduation rates, manageable debt levels, and significant post-graduation earnings. For example, the average graduation rate across these top colleges is 89%, while the financial burden remains reasonable for many. Below, you’ll find data that reflects not just the prestige of these institutions but their real-world impact on students’ lives.

Take MIT and Georgia Tech as examples. MIT graduates earn an average of $143,372, significantly higher than Georgia Tech's $102,772. However, Georgia Tech has a lower average debt of $21,672 compared to MIT's $14,768. This contrast illustrates the balancing act families face when weighing potential earnings against financial obligations as they choose the right fit for their students.

## Key Findings

- Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn an average of $143,372.
- Princeton University has a staggering 97% graduation rate.
- Georgia Tech's average debt for graduates is $21,672, which is higher than MIT's.
- The average earnings across these schools is $90,209.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology) | Cambridge, MA | 96% | $143,372 | $20,111 | $14,768 | 0.1x |
| 2 | [Stanford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stanford-university) | Stanford, CA | 92% | $124,080 | $13,807 | $12,000 | 0.1x |
| 3 | [Princeton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/princeton-university) | Princeton, NJ | 97% | $110,066 | $6,128 | $10,320 | 0.09x |
| 4 | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Atlanta, GA | 93% | $102,772 | $12,116 | $21,672 | 0.21x |
| 5 | [Cornell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cornell-university) | Ithaca, NY | 95% | $104,043 | $28,690 | $14,000 | 0.13x |
| 6 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 7 | [California Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-institute-of-technology) | Pasadena, CA | 94% | $128,566 | $16,075 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 9 | [Brown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brown-university) | Providence, RI | 96% | $93,487 | $25,184 | $11,428 | 0.12x |
| 10 | [University of Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 95% | $91,885 | $14,860 | $15,000 | 0.16x |
| 11 | [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA | 97% | $111,371 | $28,699 | $15,715 | 0.14x |
| 12 | [Harvard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harvard-university) | Cambridge, MA | 97% | $101,817 | $19,066 | $14,000 | 0.14x |
| 13 | [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college) | New York, NY | 72% | $75,971 | $3,033 | $11,512 | 0.15x |
| 14 | [Wellesley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wellesley-college) | Wellesley, MA | 91% | $84,803 | $25,496 | $10,000 | 0.12x |
| 15 | [New Jersey Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-jersey-institute-of-technology) | Newark, NJ | 73% | $84,276 | $16,504 | $21,000 | 0.25x |
| 16 | [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/vanderbilt-university) | Nashville, TN | 93% | $91,565 | $15,846 | $14,000 | 0.15x |
| 17 | [Pomona College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pomona-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $77,779 | $19,285 | $11,782 | 0.15x |
| 18 | [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york) | New York, NY | 96% | $102,491 | $21,590 | $21,500 | 0.21x |
| 19 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 20 | [Williams College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/williams-college) | Williamstown, MA | 95% | $88,665 | $17,716 | $12,761 | 0.14x |
| 21 | [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 93% | $114,862 | $31,944 | $21,750 | 0.19x |
| 22 | [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) | Chapel Hill, NC | 92% | $72,200 | $11,655 | $14,000 | 0.19x |
| 23 | [Northwestern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-university) | Evanston, IL | 96% | $89,363 | $29,167 | $15,000 | 0.17x |
| 24 | [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hunter-college) | New York, NY | 59% | $63,163 | $2,984 | $11,000 | 0.17x |
| 25 | [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dartmouth-college) | Hanover, NH | 96% | $97,434 | $29,519 | $17,500 | 0.18x |
| 26 | [Yale University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/yale-university) | New Haven, CT | 96% | $100,533 | $23,777 | $12,975 | 0.13x |
| 27 | [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) | St. Louis, MO | 94% | $86,182 | $21,786 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 28 | [Amherst College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/amherst-college) | Amherst, MA | 94% | $77,644 | $23,367 | $13,740 | 0.18x |
| 29 | [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queens-college) | Queens, NY | 56% | $62,763 | $4,195 | $10,298 | 0.16x |
| 30 | [Bowdoin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowdoin-college) | Brunswick, ME | 95% | $82,735 | $14,398 | $18,500 | 0.22x |
| 31 | [University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida) | Gainesville, FL | 91% | $71,588 | $6,541 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 32 | [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 55% | $60,752 | $3,103 | $11,000 | 0.18x |
| 33 | [Illinois Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-institute-of-technology) | Chicago, IL | 74% | $82,592 | $18,425 | $25,000 | 0.3x |
| 34 | [The University of Texas at Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas) | Richardson, TX | 75% | $68,227 | $18,267 | $18,000 | 0.26x |
| 35 | [Swarthmore College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/swarthmore-college) | Swarthmore, PA | 93% | $80,257 | $23,149 | $17,500 | 0.22x |
| 36 | [Haverford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/haverford-college) | Haverford, PA | 90% | $79,966 | $25,314 | $13,621 | 0.17x |
| 37 | [Brigham Young University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university) | Provo, UT | 82% | $75,790 | $15,564 | $11,069 | 0.15x |
| 38 | [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-school-of-mines) | Golden, CO | 81% | $97,335 | $28,690 | $23,000 | 0.24x |
| 39 | [Colby College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colby-college) | Waterville, ME | 89% | $80,490 | $17,180 | $19,157 | 0.24x |
| 40 | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice) | New York, NY | 56% | $56,195 | $3,203 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 41 | [Colgate University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colgate-university) | Hamilton, NY | 91% | $85,139 | $28,786 | $15,000 | 0.18x |
| 42 | [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-mexico-institute-of-mining-and-technology) | Socorro, NM | 57% | $76,489 | $9,873 | $19,085 | 0.25x |
| 43 | [Carleton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carleton-college) | Northfield, MN | 90% | $75,525 | $25,407 | $16,750 | 0.22x |
| 44 | [William & Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-mary) | Williamsburg, VA | 90% | $73,490 | $19,096 | $18,500 | 0.25x |
| 45 | [Davidson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/davidson-college) | Davidson, NC | 91% | $81,400 | $17,379 | $18,688 | 0.23x |
| 46 | [Claremont McKenna College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/claremont-mckenna-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $104,736 | $28,849 | $13,500 | 0.13x |
| 47 | [George Mason University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-mason-university) | Fairfax, VA | 69% | $76,343 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 0.26x |
| 48 | [Northeastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-university) | Boston, MA | 90% | $92,538 | $30,915 | $24,250 | 0.26x |
| 49 | [Georgetown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgetown-university) | Washington, DC | 95% | $103,494 | $40,815 | $15,500 | 0.15x |
| 50 | [CUNY Lehman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-lehman-college) | Bronx, NY | 50% | $58,013 | $3,148 | $10,950 | 0.19x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Social Mobility Colleges for Computer Science." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-07-13. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-computer-science

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.