Cal State LA has again been recognized as the top university for upward mobility.

The university was named No. 1 in the state in the inaugural rankings of the California Mobility Index (CMI), which was unveiled by the College Futures Foundation and the research agency HEA Group on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The Opportunity Insights based at Harvard University (formerly known as the Equality of Opportunity Project) also ranked Cal State LA No. 1 nationally in upward mobility.

“Cal State LA does not achieve these top rankings by accident,” President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said. “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. Upon graduation, they are well equipped to excel.”

Eanes credits a number of university initiatives that contribute to Cal State LA’s success in upward mobility, including:

• Removal of barriers to information and access through multilingual resources, on-site admission events, and financial aid support.
• Timely responses to financial constraints and basic needs with emergency housing grants, food security services, and targeted support, such as the Golden Eagle LA Fires Recovery Fund.
• Increasing graduation rates through the elimination of equity gaps, proactive advising, and a student-centered approach.
• Fostering student success through such programs as Transfer Success Pathways, Early Start, and First-Year Connections; and by emphasizing equity and inclusive teaching.

“A Cal State LA student will never lack for support,” said Eanes.

The CMI ranked 82 four-year institutions in California that collectively enrolled more than 785,000 undergraduate students, describing the extent to which institutions drive upward mobility among underserved learners.

Its methodology focused on inclusivity and economic outcomes. The CMI evaluated colleges and universities on the proportion of low- and moderate-income students they enroll and the return on investments for those students.

According to CMI, Cal State LA students average more than $59,000 in yearly earnings 10 years after enrollment, more than $32,000 earned by high school graduates. The average net for their four-year tuition is $18,303, which takes them less than one year to recoup. Also, 66% of Cal State LA students are Pell Grant recipients.

Cal State LA’s top ranking led the way for the California State University system, which placed 13 universities in the top 15 spots of the CMI rankings, including the first nine.

The majority of institutions ranked by CMI are Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HMI), of which Cal State LA is one. Nineteen of the top 20 schools, or 95%, are HMI, institutions whose student body consists of at least 25% Hispanics. For the spring 2025 semester, Cal State LA’s student population is 74.7% Hispanic.

Additionally, CMI found that public institutions provide better economic mobility than private ones. Nineteen of the top 20 schools on the list are public institutions that “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.”

The Opportunity Insights identified Cal State LA as the best in the country in helping students climb up the income ladder. The national study measured mobility rates, or the percentage of students who come from a family in the bottom fifth of income distribution and rise to the top fifth following graduation.

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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.