# Best Online MBA Programs for Social Mobility

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-15 | Schools: 34 | Category: MBA
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-mba-social-mobility

## Methodology

Online MBA programs ranked by Chetty mobility data

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 online MBA program can significantly impact your career trajectory, especially in terms of social mobility. Programs on this list share a strong commitment to improving the economic prospects of their graduates. With average earnings of $60,255 for graduates of these programs, it's clear that these schools are designed with future success in mind.

What sets these schools apart is their focus on key outcomes: earnings potential, graduation rates, student debt, and overall mobility. These metrics reflect not only the financial return on investment but also the likelihood of helping students move up the economic ladder. As you explore the list below, consider how each program's statistics might align with your own goals and financial situation.

For instance, the University of Florida-Online stands out with an impressive average earning of $71,588 and a graduation rate of 81%. In contrast, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, while boasting higher earnings of $84,131, has a much lower graduation rate of just 21%. This highlights a tradeoff between potential earnings and completion, prompting you to think about what factors matter most for your educational journey.

## Key Findings

- Graduates from the University of Florida-Online earn an average of $71,588.
- Embry-Riddle has the highest earnings at $84,131 but a low graduation rate of 21%.
- Western Governors University has the lowest debt at $11,116, making it a financially appealing option.
- The average graduation rate across these programs is only 35%, indicating significant challenges in completion.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Western Governors University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-governors-university) | Salt Lake City, UT | 48% | $60,615 | $12,548 | $11,116 | 0.18x |
| 2 | [University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-hampshire-college-of-professional-studies-online) | Manchester, NH | 22% | $66,479 | $10,864 | $26,814 | 0.4x |
| 3 | [University of Arkansas Grantham](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-grantham) | LIttle Rock, AR | 32% | $63,496 | $8,370 | $21,956 | 0.35x |
| 4 | [University of Maryland Global Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-global-campus) | Adelphi, MD | 31% | $65,287 | $22,063 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 5 | [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 |
| 6 | [University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 77% | $71,155 | $36,131 | $21,844 | 0.31x |
| 7 | [Florida International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-international-university) | Miami, FL | 74% | $60,249 | $9,288 | $16,500 | 0.27x |
| 8 | [University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida) | Gainesville, FL | 91% | $71,588 | $6,541 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 9 | [University of Central Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-florida) | Orlando, FL | 77% | $58,308 | $10,411 | $18,190 | 0.31x |
| 10 | [Georgetown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgetown-university) | Washington, DC | 95% | $103,494 | $40,815 | $15,500 | 0.15x |
| 11 | [George Washington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-washington-university) | Washington, DC | 85% | $90,873 | $36,586 | $20,449 | 0.23x |
| 12 | [University of South Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-florida) | Tampa, FL | 76% | $57,743 | $9,812 | $17,988 | 0.31x |
| 13 | [Boston University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boston-university) | Boston, MA | 89% | $83,238 | $24,402 | $23,250 | 0.28x |
| 14 | [Creighton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/creighton-university) | Omaha, NE | 82% | $73,911 | $31,568 | $25,000 | 0.34x |
| 15 | [Florida State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-state-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 84% | $61,675 | $11,297 | $18,000 | 0.29x |
| 16 | [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign) | Champaign, IL | 85% | $81,054 | $14,355 | $19,500 | 0.24x |
| 17 | [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 |
| 18 | [University of Arkansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas) | Fayetteville, AR | 70% | $58,191 | $18,209 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 19 | [University of Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-georgia) | Athens, GA | 89% | $68,726 | $13,936 | $18,500 | 0.27x |
| 20 | [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus) | Norman, OK | 75% | $63,126 | $15,300 | $20,654 | 0.33x |
| 21 | [Drexel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drexel-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 78% | $84,648 | $38,509 | $25,325 | 0.3x |
| 22 | [Northeastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-university) | Boston, MA | 90% | $92,538 | $30,915 | $24,250 | 0.26x |
| 23 | [Syracuse University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/syracuse-university) | Syracuse, NY | 82% | $79,164 | $38,793 | $26,000 | 0.33x |
| 24 | [Texas A&M University-College Station](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-am-university-college-station) | College Station, TX | 84% | $72,097 | $21,315 | $17,804 | 0.25x |
| 25 | [University of Wisconsin-Madison](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison) | Madison, WI | 89% | $73,792 | $17,354 | $20,484 | 0.28x |
| 26 | [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-nebraska-lincoln) | Lincoln, NE | 66% | $56,887 | $17,747 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 27 | [University of South Carolina-Columbia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-carolina-columbia) | Columbia, SC | 78% | $62,177 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 0.35x |
| 28 | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus) | Columbus, OH | 88% | $60,409 | $17,339 | $19,976 | 0.33x |
| 29 | [Indiana University-Bloomington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington) | Bloomington, IN | 81% | $63,742 | $16,264 | $19,509 | 0.31x |
| 30 | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-washington-seattle-campus) | Seattle, WA | 84% | $78,466 | $14,091 | $14,615 | 0.19x |
| 31 | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion) | Tempe, AZ | 68% | $62,668 | $14,967 | $19,500 | 0.31x |
| 32 | [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor) | Ann Arbor, MI | 93% | $83,648 | $13,138 | $19,500 | 0.23x |
| 33 | [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities) | Minneapolis, MN | 85% | $69,020 | $16,778 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 34 | [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus) | University Park, PA | 86% | $63,435 | $32,875 | $25,000 | 0.39x |

## 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 Online MBA Programs for Social Mobility." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-15. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-mba-social-mobility

## 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/.