Salem State University ranks No. 29 in the North for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report's 2027 Best Colleges rankings, released Tuesday, September 22. It's the highest social mobility ranking of any Massachusetts state university in the Regional Universities North category, which includes 164 colleges and universities in the Northeast that offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master's programs.
The social mobility ranking measures how well colleges graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants, which typically go to students from lower-income households. According to U.S. News, the six-year graduation rate for Salem State's Pell Grant recipients is within eight percentage points of the rate for students who don't receive the grant.
“Salem State was built to open doors. Social mobility is at the heart of our mission, and this ranking reflects what our faculty and staff do daily to ensure students from every background don’t just enroll but graduate and build the careers they came her for.” — President John Keenan
Salem State also rose nine spots in the overall rankings, to No. 85 in Regional Universities North, and ranks No. 24 among top public schools in the category.
U.S. News data also highlights several strengths:
- An 11:1 student-faculty ratio, which gives students small classes and direct access to faculty
- A median salary of $48,209 for graduates six years after graduation
- An average net price of $18,359 for students who receive federal loans
Learn more about admissions and financial aid at Salem State.