The 2024 Social Mobility Index (SMI) was released in September, marking 11 years of ranking U.S. colleges and universities according to how strongly they prioritize educational opportunities and successful outcomes for economically disadvantaged students.
The CUNY and CSU systems continue as perennial social mobility leaders with five CUNY and nine CSU institutions among the top 20 in the 2024 SMI. At #4, Winston-Salem State University proves again that it is not only a national social mobility leader, but also the leader among HBCUs at competitively driving social mobility. Old Dominion University is the first-ever research 1 university to reach the SMI Top 10. Some elite institutions continue to move up in the SMI as university administrators nationwide are responding to the growing emphasis on equity and inclusion. Princeton University jumped 251 places to number 227 in this year’s SMI. UCLA advanced 104 places to claim position 143. After skyrocketing 1000 places last year, Harvard University continues its upward move jumping 23 places to 340 this year.
The Top 20 SMI Schools for 2024
1. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
2. California State University, San Marcos
3. CUNY Lehman College
4. Winston-Salem State University
5. CUNY City College
6. California State University, Dominguez Hills
7. Old Dominion University
8. California State University, Los Angeles
9. California State University, Long Beach
10. California State University, Bakersfield
11. California State University, Northridge
12. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
13. Farmingdale State College
14. California State University, Channel Islands
15. The University of Texas at El Paso
16. California State University, Fresno
17. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
18. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
19. New Jersey City University
20. CUNY Queens College
