Stanislaus State Scores Big in Economic Mobility Rankings

Stanislaus State has once again earned national recognition as a leader in driving economic mobility, according to recent college rankings. Washington D.C.-based think tank Third Way ranked the University No. 6 in the nation on its Economic Mobility Index while Stan State also reemerged on Forbes' Top Colleges list, demonstrating how higher education can create pathways to financial stability for low-income students and their families.

According to Third Way, 10 of the top 25 universities in the 2024 Economic Mobility Index are in the California State University system, recognizing how the institutions serve low-income students and how quickly they provide a return on their investment.

Stanislaus State's efforts to increase student economic mobility are evident in numerous ways, beginning with its Career and Professional Development Center. That team provides career counseling, resume building, mock interviews, and job search assistance. The HireStanState platform connects students with employers offering internships and job opportunities, enhancing post-graduation employment prospects.

Internships also are created by individual colleges for students as are other experiential learning opportunities and volunteer possibilities.

Myriad opportunities are provided for students to engage with alumni, who often provide internships or one-on-one meetings to offer advice and professional direction.

The University creates intentional pathways to career success through partnerships with local industries and community organizations. It offers programs that align academic training with regional labor market needs, positioning students for careers in fields like healthcare, education, and business.

The University's commitment to economic mobility is a hallmark of the CSU system, as evidenced by the inclusion of other campuses.

Cal State Los Angeles ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2024 Economic Mobility Index and CSU Dominguez Hills ranked No. 2.

See the Third Way CSU rankings in list form

Third Way groups institutions by Economic Mobility Index (EMI) tiers, with tier one schools performing the best at providing economic benefits to students who need them the most. Institutions in tier one of the EMI with the lowest price-to-earnings premium for low-income students are leading the pack in serving their most marginalized students.

In another list announced on Monday, Sept. 9, Stan State was one of 21 CSU schools ranked in Forbes' 2025 America's Top Colleges list. It ranked No. 360.

See the Forbes CSU rankings in list form

Forbes' ranking methodology incorporates Third Way's price-to-earnings premium metric in measuring colleges' return on investment for its annual list.

Part of that measurement is debt accrued by students and the length of time it takes to repay that debt.

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