# Best Social Mobility Colleges for Mathematics

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: Social Mobility
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-mathematics

## Methodology

Ranked by social mobility with program concentration in Mathematics & Statistics

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

The best colleges for mathematics not only excel in academic rigor but also show a remarkable ability to enhance social mobility for their students. With an average earnings figure of $86,666 for graduates, these institutions demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring their programs lead to successful outcomes. As families consider their options, understanding the social mobility aspect becomes crucial in making a choice that impacts future financial stability.

What sets these schools apart from the rest is their combination of high graduation rates, manageable debt levels, and impressive post-graduate earnings. For instance, the institutions listed below feature graduation rates averaging 87%, reflecting their dedication to supporting students through their academic journeys. We can see how factors like net price and average debt also play a role in determining which schools truly foster mobility versus those that may not deliver as well on these promises.

Take Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example. While both schools have outstanding graduation rates, Stanford's average earnings are $124,080, compared to MIT's $143,372. However, MIT's higher net price of $20,111 and debt of $14,768 compared to Stanford’s $13,807 net price and debt of $12,000 highlights the tradeoffs families need to consider when weighing these impressive institutions.

## Key Findings

- Stanford University graduates earn an average of $124,080.
- MIT boasts a 96% graduation rate, the highest among the top five.
- Harvard University students face an average debt of $14,000 upon graduation.
- The average earnings of graduates from these schools stand at $86,666, showing robust financial outcomes.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Stanford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stanford-university) | Stanford, CA | 92% | $124,080 | $13,807 | $12,000 | 0.1x |
| 2 | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology) | Cambridge, MA | 96% | $143,372 | $20,111 | $14,768 | 0.1x |
| 3 | [University of Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 95% | $91,885 | $14,860 | $15,000 | 0.16x |
| 4 | [Harvard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harvard-university) | Cambridge, MA | 97% | $101,817 | $19,066 | $14,000 | 0.14x |
| 5 | [Brown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brown-university) | Providence, RI | 96% | $93,487 | $25,184 | $11,428 | 0.12x |
| 6 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 7 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 8 | [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA | 97% | $111,371 | $28,699 | $15,715 | 0.14x |
| 9 | [Williams College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/williams-college) | Williamstown, MA | 95% | $88,665 | $17,716 | $12,761 | 0.14x |
| 10 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 11 | [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 93% | $114,862 | $31,944 | $21,750 | 0.19x |
| 12 | [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 |
| 13 | [Yale University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/yale-university) | New Haven, CT | 96% | $100,533 | $23,777 | $12,975 | 0.13x |
| 14 | [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dartmouth-college) | Hanover, NH | 96% | $97,434 | $29,519 | $17,500 | 0.18x |
| 15 | [Amherst College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/amherst-college) | Amherst, MA | 94% | $77,644 | $23,367 | $13,740 | 0.18x |
| 16 | [Pomona College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pomona-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $77,779 | $19,285 | $11,782 | 0.15x |
| 17 | [California Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/california-institute-of-technology) | Pasadena, CA | 94% | $128,566 | $16,075 | N/A | N/A |
| 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 | [Bowdoin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowdoin-college) | Brunswick, ME | 95% | $82,735 | $14,398 | $18,500 | 0.22x |
| 20 | [Emory University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-university) | Atlanta, GA | 91% | $80,137 | $22,585 | $18,250 | 0.23x |
| 21 | [Haverford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/haverford-college) | Haverford, PA | 90% | $79,966 | $25,314 | $13,621 | 0.17x |
| 22 | [Swarthmore College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/swarthmore-college) | Swarthmore, PA | 93% | $80,257 | $23,149 | $17,500 | 0.22x |
| 23 | [Davidson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/davidson-college) | Davidson, NC | 91% | $81,400 | $17,379 | $18,688 | 0.23x |
| 24 | [University of Notre Dame](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-notre-dame) | Notre Dame, IN | 96% | $99,980 | $26,780 | $19,000 | 0.19x |
| 25 | [Carleton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carleton-college) | Northfield, MN | 90% | $75,525 | $25,407 | $16,750 | 0.22x |
| 26 | [Bates College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bates-college) | Lewiston, ME | 90% | $69,498 | $29,351 | $14,275 | 0.21x |
| 27 | [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin) | Austin, TX | 88% | $75,121 | $19,857 | $20,500 | 0.27x |
| 28 | [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 |
| 29 | [Middlebury College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/middlebury-college) | Middlebury, VT | 92% | $76,310 | $31,483 | $13,857 | 0.18x |
| 30 | [Grinnell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grinnell-college) | Grinnell, IA | 88% | $62,830 | $17,648 | $17,500 | 0.28x |
| 31 | [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-school-of-mines) | Golden, CO | 81% | $97,335 | $28,690 | $23,000 | 0.24x |
| 32 | [University of Rochester](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-rochester) | Rochester, NY | 85% | $79,042 | $29,278 | $21,000 | 0.27x |
| 33 | [Trinity University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-university) | San Antonio, TX | 83% | $71,668 | $23,464 | $22,954 | 0.32x |
| 34 | [New York University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-york-university) | New York, NY | 88% | $82,509 | $37,050 | $20,500 | 0.25x |
| 35 | [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute) | Troy, NY | 83% | $102,051 | $36,228 | $23,750 | 0.23x |
| 36 | [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stevens-institute-of-technology) | Hoboken, NJ | 88% | $108,772 | $41,346 | $27,000 | 0.25x |
| 37 | [University of Connecticut](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-connecticut) | Storrs, CT | 84% | $73,997 | $25,097 | $21,500 | 0.29x |
| 38 | [Truman State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/truman-state-university) | Kirksville, MO | 68% | $56,280 | $12,780 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 39 | [Harvey Mudd College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harvey-mudd-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $138,687 | $35,924 | $25,000 | 0.18x |
| 40 | [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-college-of-new-jersey) | Ewing, NJ | 86% | $73,323 | $27,646 | $23,250 | 0.32x |
| 41 | [Virginia Military Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-military-institute) | Lexington, VA | 79% | $77,369 | $17,113 | $22,996 | 0.3x |
| 42 | [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-holy-cross) | Worcester, MA | 88% | $90,543 | $38,782 | $27,000 | 0.3x |
| 43 | [Bryn Mawr College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryn-mawr-college) | Bryn Mawr, PA | 84% | $75,217 | $31,759 | $25,000 | 0.33x |
| 44 | [Vassar College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/vassar-college) | Poughkeepsie, NY | 90% | $71,366 | $39,343 | $18,625 | 0.26x |
| 45 | [Franklin and Marshall College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-and-marshall-college) | Lancaster, PA | 85% | $76,124 | $36,425 | $19,000 | 0.25x |
| 46 | [Mayville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mayville-state-university) | Mayville, ND | 40% | $47,828 | $11,456 | $18,585 | 0.39x |
| 47 | [Fordham University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fordham-university) | Bronx, NY | 81% | $85,569 | $44,338 | $24,300 | 0.28x |
| 48 | [Whitman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/whitman-college) | Walla Walla, WA | 81% | $67,589 | $33,313 | $18,437 | 0.27x |
| 49 | [Brandeis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brandeis-university) | Waltham, MA | 86% | $77,231 | $35,736 | $25,648 | 0.33x |
| 50 | [Macalester College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/macalester-college) | Saint Paul, MN | 89% | $63,878 | $32,149 | $23,000 | 0.36x |

## 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 Mathematics." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-mathematics

## 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/.