Rankings / Admissions
Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges
- 50
- Schools
- $77,575
- Avg. Earnings
- 83%
- Avg. Graduation
- $31,574
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,468
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $38,289 at the low end to $123,938 at the top. That 3.2× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $75,971 against $3,033 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at $3,033 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $75,971, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates 95% of its students, well above the 83% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor CUNY Bernard M Baruch College: graduates owe only 0.15× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Pitzer College ($69,512 earnings), not the highest earner, Babson College ($123,938). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($3,033/yr) and Santa Clara University ($50,062/yr) produce graduates earning $75,971 and $109,183 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $47,029 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College outperforms Babson College: 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 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College and University of Virginia-Main Campus. 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
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $76K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-06-15
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 Pitzer College #1 overall | $69,512 ▼ -10% vs avg | $34,191 | 83% | 94 |
| 2 University of Virginia-Main Campus #2 overall | $86,863 ▲ +12% vs avg | $21,565 | 95% | 89 |
| 3 Lehigh University #3 overall | $105,584 ▲ +36% vs avg | $36,931 | 89% | 85 |
| $75,971 ▼ -2% vs avg | $3,033 | 72% | 85 | |
| $77,819 ▲ +0% vs avg | $41,544 | 80% | 83 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $77,575 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 83% and an average net price of $31,574.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — Net Price: $3,033 | Graduation Rate: 72%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Virginia-Main Campus — 95% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Babson College — Median alumni earnings: $123,938
Our Analysis Found
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Opportunity & Mobility Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about opportunity, mobility, and the future of higher education in America?
$76,048
Median earnings (10yr)
84%
Median graduation rate
$32,519
Median net price
2.1%
Avg. mobility rate
This national ranking strips away reputation and looks at what colleges deliver: earnings, completion, mobility, and affordability. The schools at the top are not necessarily the most famous or the most selective. They are the ones producing strong outcomes for a broad cross-section of students, the truest measure of institutional effectiveness.
The median graduation rate across these 50 schools is 84%. Median graduate earnings reach $76,048 ten years after enrollment, roughly $28,048 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $32,519 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $21,250. Some 18% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 2.1%.
The schools winning this ranking combine strong outcomes with broad access. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads on mobility, and list-wide median earnings reach $76,048. The institutions rising to the top are the ones leaving students measurably better off.
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
Pitzer College lands at #1 with a 94/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $69,512 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $34,191 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Charlottesville, VA · 17% accepted · $21,565 net
Why it ranks #2
University of Virginia-Main Campus lands at #2 with a 89/100 composite, led by academic quality (95/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $86,863 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,565 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 #3
Lehigh University lands at #3 with a 85/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $105,584 a decade after enrolling, 36% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,931 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 #4
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College lands at #4 with a 85/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (73/100). Graduates earn a median $75,971 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,033 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 #5
Marist University lands at #5 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (33/100). Graduates earn a median $77,819 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,544 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
Washington College lands at #6 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $65,518 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,898 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 #7
Trinity College lands at #7 with a 82/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $90,779 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $34,832 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 #8
Bennington College lands at #8 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $38,289 a decade after enrolling, 51% below this list's average, and net price runs $30,947 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 #9
Mount Holyoke College lands at #9 with a 82/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $58,418 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,441 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 #10
Whitman College lands at #10 with a 81/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $67,589 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $33,313 a year. 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 #11
Southern Methodist University lands at #11 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $78,354 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $40,892 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
Worcester Polytechnic Institute lands at #12 with a 79/100 composite, led by academic quality (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $103,470 a decade after enrolling, 33% above this list's average, and net price runs $43,071 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 #13
Fairfield University lands at #13 with a 79/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (26/100). Graduates earn a median $88,794 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $48,095 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 #14
St Lawrence University lands at #14 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $67,258 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,651 a year, well under 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 #15
Bates College lands at #15 with a 77/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (71/100). Graduates earn a median $69,498 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,351 a year. 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 #16
Bentley University lands at #16 with a 77/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $120,959 a decade after enrolling, 56% above this list's average, and net price runs $37,930 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 #17
Clark University lands at #17 with a 76/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $62,381 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,714 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 #18
Kenyon College lands at #18 with a 76/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $71,830 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $38,512 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 #19
University of Rochester lands at #19 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $79,042 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,278 a year. 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 #20
Babson College lands at #20 with a 73/100 composite, led by academic quality (96/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $123,938 a decade after enrolling, 60% above this list's average, and net price runs $40,514 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 #21
The College of Wooster lands at #21 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $59,629 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,458 a year, well under 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 #22
Loyola Marymount University lands at #22 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $78,349 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $48,381 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 #23
Lake Forest College lands at #23 with a 71/100 composite, led by academic quality (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $61,825 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,673 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
San Luis Obispo, CA · 31% accepted · $16,665 net
Why it ranks #24
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo lands at #24 with a 71/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $90,768 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,665 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
Seattle, WA · 39% accepted · $14,091 net
Why it ranks #25
University of Washington-Seattle Campus lands at #25 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $78,466 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,091 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 #26
Villanova University lands at #26 with a 70/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $100,423 a decade after enrolling, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $43,756 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 #27
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus lands at #27 with a 69/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $78,466 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,163 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 #28
University of Massachusetts-Amherst lands at #28 with a 68/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $71,631 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,383 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 #29
Northeastern University lands at #29 with a 67/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $92,538 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,915 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 #30
Oberlin College lands at #30 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $58,343 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $38,645 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
Illinois Wesleyan University lands at #31 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $70,871 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,199 a year, well under 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 #32
University of Central Florida lands at #32 with a 66/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (70/100). Graduates earn a median $58,308 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,411 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 #33
University of Richmond lands at #33 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $76,178 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,309 a year. 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 #34
Occidental College lands at #34 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $75,951 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $38,263 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 #35
Skidmore College lands at #35 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $69,363 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $32,297 a year. 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 #36
Austin College lands at #36 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $61,296 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,107 a year, well under 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 #37
Santa Clara University lands at #37 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $109,183 a decade after enrolling, 41% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,062 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 #38
Franklin and Marshall College lands at #38 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $76,124 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $36,425 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 #39
Gettysburg College lands at #39 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $71,517 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,490 a year. 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
Brandeis University lands at #40 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $77,231 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,736 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 #41
Lafayette College lands at #41 with a 62/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $91,410 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $34,433 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 #42
Dickinson College lands at #42 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $70,204 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $37,607 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 #43
Colgate University lands at #43 with a 61/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (69/100). Graduates earn a median $85,139 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,786 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 #44
New York University lands at #44 with a 61/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $82,509 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $37,050 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 #45
Tulane University of Louisiana lands at #45 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $63,268 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $39,949 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 #46
University of Connecticut lands at #46 with a 58/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $73,997 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,097 a year, well under 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 #47
Rollins College lands at #47 with a 58/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (37/100). Graduates earn a median $58,295 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $34,732 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 #48
University of Southern California lands at #48 with a 57/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $92,498 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $32,740 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 #49
St Olaf College lands at #49 with a 57/100 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, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,874 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 #50
Scripps College lands at #50 with a 56/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $77,539 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,294 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
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 42 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 2.1%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads the group at 12.9%, with University of Southern California (3.9%) and New York University (3.6%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 4.9% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College enrolls the most, at 27.6%, 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 44.9% across the list, peaking at 68.2% at Babson 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 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Bentley University is highest at 1.89.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges ranking? +
Pitzer College in Claremont, CA ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $69,512 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 83% 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? +
Babson College posts the highest median earnings on this list: $123,938 ten years after enrollment, well above the $77,575 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, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads: graduates earn a median $75,971 against net price of about $3,033 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? +
University of Virginia-Main Campus has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 95%, compared with a 83% 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 $31,574 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is among the most affordable at roughly $3,033. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges 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
Related Rankings
