California Mobility Index: A New View on Economic Mobility
February 20, 2025
The California Mobility Index was created in partnership with College Futures Foundation.
College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group prioritize economic mobility as a cornerstone of their missions and recognize that postsecondary education provides a critical pathway to a better life for underserved learners across California. The inaugural California Mobility Index (CMI) includes 82 four-year institutions that together enroll 785,576 undergraduate students. It describes the extent to which institutions drive upward mobility among underserved learners.
The California Mobility Index Sets a New Standard in Assessing Economic Value and Impact in Higher Education
Traditional news rankings of postsecondary institutions often prioritize exclusivity and inputs. The California Mobility Index takes a different approach, focusing instead on inclusivity and economic outcomes. Specifically, the CMI evaluates California institutions on the proportion of low- and moderate-income learners they enroll AND the return on investments they provide these learners.
CSUs Lead the Way on Economic Mobility
Institutions within the California State University (CSU) system top the list of institutions delivering on the promise of economic mobility for low- and moderate-income learners throughout the state. In fact, 13 out of the CMI’s top 15 institutions fall within the CSU system. In comparison, only two institutions within the University of California system—its Merced and Irvine campuses—qualify as the CMI’s top 15 institutions.
Most Top CMI Choices Are Hispanic-Serving Institutions
California is home to many Latinx learners and families, and this is reflected within many institutions throughout the state. Of the 82 four-year institutions assessed in the CMI, 45 are designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), meaning they enroll a high proportion of Latinx students. Many HSIs are shown to provide strong economic mobility for California learners—19 out of the CMI’s top 20 schools are designated as HSIs.
Public Institutions Provide More Economic Mobility Than Private Institutions
Compared to private and for-profit institutions, public four-year colleges in California generally enroll a higher proportion of low- and moderate-income students, provide an affordable education, and allow these learners to earn a high enough income to pay down their educational costs quickly. Recognizing these factors, public colleges make up 19 of the top 20 schools in terms of economic mobility. One private non-profit institution—Fresno Pacific University—is also featured within the CMI’s top 20 institutions.
Learn More
Access additional resources, including the full index and data available for download, at https://collegefutures.org/california-mobility-index. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay updated on our upcoming work, including the launch of the Two-Year California Mobility Index in Spring 2025.
*The original Economic Mobility Index was created by the HEA Group with and for Third Way.
