A new four-year college index affirms the California State University's (CSU) strength in elevating students' socio-economic trajectory through higher education. The California Mobility Index (CMI), announced today by the College Futures Foundation, places CSU institutions at the top of the list for delivering on the promise of economic mobility for California learners from low- and moderate-income backgrounds.
Unlike traditional ranking systems of postsecondary institutions, the CMI focuses specifically on the proportion of low- and moderate-income students California institutions enroll and the return on investment they provide this demographic. This is calculated using data from the U.S. Department of Education to measure two factors: 1) the "Price-to-Earnings Premium" for low- and moderate-income students (students whose families earn $0-$75,000 annually) and 2) the proportion of these students enrolled at the institution. For more information on the CMI's methodology, visit the College Futures Foundation website.
All 23 campuses in the CSU system appear in the index, with the CMI's top nine all from the CSU. Additionally, 13 CSU campuses were among the top 15 institutions ranked.
“I am extremely proud but unsurprised that CSU institutions rank so highly in the California Mobility Index, which sets a new standard for assessing the value and impact of a four-year degree," said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “When it comes to driving students' upward socioeconomic trajectory through the power of higher education, the CSU is unmatched. It is a credit to our world-class faculty and staff and – most importantly – to the diverse and talented students we are so profoundly honored to serve."
The CSU campuses among the CMI's top 15 are:
Los Angeles (1)
Dominguez Hills (2)
Stanislaus (3)
Bakersfield (4)
Fresno (5)
San Bernardino (6)
Fullerton (7)
Long Beach (8)
Northridge (9)
Pomona (11)
East Bay (13)
Sacramento (14)
San Marcos (15)
As the largest system of four-year higher education in the country with universities spanning the State of California, the CSU serves a critical role in empowering students from all backgrounds to earn a college degree that leads to greater lifetime earnings. Nearly one-third of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of students are from historically underrepresented communities.
Year after year, national college rankings highlight the transformative power of a CSU degree to propel lower-income students into higher-paying jobs. Read more about the CSU's rankings and accolades.
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 460,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending over 125,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.