California State University, Los Angeles has been recognized as the top university in the state for upward mobility, a metric in higher education that ranks the economic advancement of low and middle-income students post-graduation.
The new ranking system known as the California Mobility Index was unveiled last week by the College Futures Foundation with data from the HEA Group, a research and consulting agency. Out of 82 four-year colleges ranked in the state, CSULA outranked all other institutions that collectively enroll more than 785,000 undergraduate students. CSU Dominguez Hills came in second and CSU Stanislaus ranked third on the list.
The CMI rankings consider the percentage of low and middle-income students an institution enrolls, those students’ average earnings within 10 years after enrollment and the average costs students paid for their degrees.
Cal State L.A. President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said students at her school are “well equipped to excel” upon graduation.
“Cal State LA does not achieve these top rankings by accident,” Eanes said in a press release. “Our faculty and staff understand the unique needs of our students, and we communicate clearly to them, as well as their families, the information they need to navigate the complexities of higher education.”
Eanes points to a number of university initiatives and resources that have contributed to the school’s success including financial aid and food security support, proactive advising, transfer success resources and the elimination of equity gaps.
According to CMI, 66% of Cal State L.A. low and middle-income students (tracked as Pell Grant recipients) earn an average of more than $59,000 a year 10 years after enrollment. Because the cost of attaining a four-year degree is only around $18,000, many graduates can recoup their schooling costs within a year.
The report also showed that nine out of the top 10 schools on the list are CSU campuses, and 19 of the top 20 schools are Hispanic-Serving Institutions. For the spring 2025 semester, Cal State L.A.’s student population is 74.7% Hispanic.
