Rankings / Value
Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management
- 50
- Schools
- $62,424
- Avg. Earnings
- 55%
- Avg. Graduation
- $6,179
- Avg. Net Price
- $15,180
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $31,231 to $114,210, a 3.7× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Texas A & M International University delivers the most for the money: roughly $51,325 in median earnings against $336 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Texas A & M International University is the lowest-cost school here at $336 a year in net price.
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Rice University graduates 95% of its students, versus a 55% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Berea College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.11× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($83,742 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($114,210), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Texas A & M International University costs $336 a year and University of Georgia costs $13,636. Yet their graduates earn $51,325 and $77,246, nowhere near the $13,300 price gap.
- On value, Texas A & M International University beats Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the 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 Texas A & M International University and Rice University. 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
Business 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 $62K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. 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 2026-11-02
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
- National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
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 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College #1 overall | $83,742 ▲ +34% vs avg | $657 | 71% | 93 |
| 2 CUNY Brooklyn College #2 overall | $66,519 ▲ +7% vs avg | $950 | 53% | 90 |
| 3 CUNY York College #3 overall | $62,351 ▲ +0% vs avg | $1,956 | 30% | 88 |
| $65,181 ▲ +4% vs avg | $541 | 50% | 88 | |
| $68,324 ▲ +9% vs avg | $1,272 | 53% | 87 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $62,424 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 55% and an average net price of $6,179.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Texas A & M International University — Net Price: $336 | Graduation Rate: 48%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Rice University — 95% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus — Median alumni earnings: $114,210
CollegeRanker Primary Research
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$62,151
Median earnings (10yr)
53%
Median graduation rate
$6,208
Median net price
3.6%
Avg. mobility rate
Business and MBA programs sell acceleration: faster paths into management, bigger networks, and a salary step-change. The return is famously dispersed, though. A handful of programs deliver enormous ROI through placement and alumni networks, while many barely clear the cost of attendance. Management education is less a single product than a wide spectrum of outcomes.
The median graduation rate across these 50 schools is 53%. Median graduate earnings reach $62,151 ten years after enrollment, roughly $14,151 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $6,208 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $14,601. Some 47% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 3.6%.
What we’re seeing: value concentrates where networks and employer pipelines are strongest, and ROI varies more here than in almost any other field. Median earnings reach $62,151 ten years after enrollment, with CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at the top of the list. The spread between the best programs and the median is the real story of an MBA.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College lands at #1 with a 93/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (73/100). Graduates earn a median $83,742 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $657 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
CUNY Brooklyn College lands at #2 with a 90/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $66,519 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $950 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
CUNY York College lands at #3 with a 88/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $62,351 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $1,956 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
CUNY Lehman College lands at #4 with a 88/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $65,181 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $541 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
CUNY Queens College lands at #5 with a 87/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $68,324 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $1,272 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Florida lands at #6 with a 87/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (79/100). Graduates earn a median $78,456 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,969 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
The University of Texas Permian Basin lands at #7 with a 87/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $61,557 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,070 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
CUNY Hunter College lands at #8 with a 86/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $70,502 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $1,051 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
CUNY Medgar Evers College lands at #9 with a 85/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (37/100). Graduates earn a median $49,242 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,245 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 #10
University of Virginia's College at Wise lands at #10 with a 84/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (66/100). Graduates earn a median $50,389 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,869 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
University of Florida-Online lands at #11 with a 84/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (69/100). Graduates earn a median $78,456 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,336 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Florida State University lands at #12 with a 84/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (74/100). Graduates earn a median $68,225 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,605 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Texas A & M International University lands at #13 with a 84/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $51,325 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $336 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 #14
Dalton State College lands at #14 with a 83/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $46,083 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,353 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 #15
University of South Florida lands at #15 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $63,660 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,648 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 #16
University of New Orleans lands at #16 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $53,518 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,761 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Saint Peter's University lands at #17 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $63,525 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,127 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 #18
College of Staten Island CUNY lands at #18 with a 82/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $59,992 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,153 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 #19
Southeastern Oklahoma State University lands at #19 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $48,391 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,565 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
CUNY City College lands at #20 with a 82/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $69,594 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $1,557 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
California State University-Stanislaus lands at #21 with a 82/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $65,560 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,565 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.
Pillar breakdown
Los Angeles, CA · 91% accepted · $2,385 net
Why it ranks #22
California State University-Los Angeles lands at #22 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $62,555 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $2,385 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.
Pillar breakdown
Brooklyn, NY · 80% accepted · $2,818 net
Why it ranks #23
CUNY New York City College of Technology lands at #23 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $57,019 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,818 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 #24
California State University-Fullerton lands at #24 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (65/100). Graduates earn a median $69,015 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,115 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Murray State University lands at #25 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $48,482 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,350 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Portland State University lands at #26 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $62,447 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,337 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 #27
Ferris State University lands at #27 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $60,457 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,402 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
The University of Texas at El Paso lands at #28 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $54,599 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,803 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Berea College lands at #29 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (68/100). Graduates earn a median $48,071 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,836 a year. 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
Lamar University lands at #30 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $53,857 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,984 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Farmingdale State College lands at #31 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $75,278 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,146 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Chapel Hill, NC · 15% accepted · $11,305 net
Why it ranks #32
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lands at #32 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (81/100). Graduates earn a median $81,094 a decade after enrolling, 30% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,305 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 #33
University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla lands at #33 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $31,231 a decade after enrolling, 50% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,564 a year, above 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 #34
Northern Kentucky University lands at #34 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $55,024 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,976 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Marshall University lands at #35 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $49,444 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,341 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
San Bernardino, CA · 94% accepted · $3,946 net
Why it ranks #36
California State University-San Bernardino lands at #36 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $61,951 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,946 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 #37
Florida Atlantic University lands at #37 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (70/100). Graduates earn a median $61,062 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,394 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Atlanta, GA · 14% accepted · $12,028 net
Why it ranks #38
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus lands at #38 with a 80/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (75/100). Graduates earn a median $114,210 a decade after enrolling, 83% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,028 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 #39
Rice University lands at #39 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (82/100). Graduates earn a median $90,773 a decade after enrolling, 45% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,164 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 #40
Georgia Southwestern State University lands at #40 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $55,890 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,170 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
University of Georgia lands at #41 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (73/100). Graduates earn a median $77,246 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,636 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
Bakersfield, CA · 94% accepted · $4,001 net
Why it ranks #42
California State University-Bakersfield lands at #42 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $62,381 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,001 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
Youngstown State University lands at #43 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $46,691 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,161 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Shepherd University lands at #44 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $54,833 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,940 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
University of Baltimore lands at #45 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $65,666 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,270 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
University of West Florida lands at #46 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (68/100). Graduates earn a median $52,902 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,443 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Edinburg, TX · 94% accepted · $4,858 net
Why it ranks #47
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lands at #47 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $52,947 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,858 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 #48
Indiana University-Kokomo lands at #48 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $52,440 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,707 a year. 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 #49
Florida International University lands at #49 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $65,722 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,462 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 #50
San Francisco State University lands at #50 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $73,299 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,803 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Top states on this list
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →As students and families explore options for supply chain management degrees, affordability often tops the list of priorities. With the average earnings for graduates in this field hovering around $54,271, it’s crucial to find a program that balances cost with return on investment.
The schools featured here stand out not just for their low net prices, but also for their graduation rates and earnings potential. The metrics of completion and post-graduation debt are essential to understanding the true value of each program. Below, you’ll see how these institutions stack up in terms of what matters most after graduation: real earnings and manageable debt levels.
Take CUNY Bernard M Baruch College and CUNY Brooklyn College, for example. Baruch boasts an impressive $75,971 in earnings and a 72% graduation rate, while Brooklyn, with earnings of $60,752 and a 55% graduation rate, presents a different tradeoff. Both schools offer affordable pathways, but Baruch's higher earnings make it a more attractive option for those focused on long-term financial stability.
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
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 34 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 3.6%. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads the group at 12.9%, with CUNY Lehman College (10.2%) and CUNY Brooklyn College (8.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 14.8% of students start in the bottom income quintile. CUNY Lehman College leads at 36.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 25.3% across this list. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus posts the highest success rate at 57.5%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.51 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Rice University reaches 1.86, the highest on the list.
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
Where These Schools Are Located
When we compare CUNY Bernard M Baruch College and CUNY Lehman College, the differences in outcomes tell a compelling story. Baruch's graduates earn $75,971 on average, while Lehman graduates earn $58,013. Despite both being affordable options, Baruch's significantly higher earnings indicate a stronger return on investment for students who complete their degrees.
For families weighing this data, it’s essential to align these numbers with individual priorities. Consider factors like location, campus environment, and specific program strengths. If a school offers lower debt but is further from home or lacks robust career services, the tradeoff might not align with your goals. Take time to visit campuses and talk to current students to get a feel for what fits best.
Ultimately, the data here reflects the journey from college to financial stability. Each of these schools presents an opportunity for one family to make a significant choice that impacts their future. Selecting the right program could lead not just to a degree, but to a pathway out of debt and into a successful career in supply chain management.
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
Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management ranking? +
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College in New York, NY ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $83,742 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 71% 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? +
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus posts the highest median earnings on this list: $114,210 ten years after enrollment, well above the $62,424 average across the 50 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, Texas A & M International University leads: graduates earn a median $51,325 against net price of about $336 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? +
Rice University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 95%, compared with a 55% 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 $6,179 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. Texas A & M International University is among the most affordable at roughly $336. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Most Affordable Colleges for Supply Chain Management 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 50 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
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
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