At Cal State San Bernardino, helping students climb the economic ladder isn’t just an outcome — it’s part of the mission. It’s a commitment has earned the university statewide and nationwide recognition as one of California’s top four-year institutions for advancing social and economic mobility, particularly for low- and moderate-income students.

The College Futures Foundation, in partnership with the HEA Group, ranked CSUSB No. 6 out of 82 four-year institutions on its inaugural Four-Year California Mobility Index (CMI). The new index emphasizes inclusivity and outcomes in higher education. It evaluates institutions based on the proportion of low- and moderate-income students they enroll and the return on investment they provide within the state of California.

The recognition is just one of the national accolades the university received during the 2024-25 academic year. CSUSB was ranked No. 3 in the country for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal and No. 12 nationally by U.S. News & World Report on their respective 2025 best colleges lists.

The Wall Street Journal’s America’s Best Colleges ranking recognizes institutions that take in the highest proportion of students coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates, having a positive impact on graduate salaries and minimizing the costs of attending college. 

U.S. News & World Report’s Top Performers on Social Mobility category focuses on colleges that promote the advancement and graduation of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Institutions ranked high for social mobility “are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with (federal) Pell Grants,” U.S. News states. “The vast majority of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.”

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (left) accepts an award from Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president and CEO of the College Futures Foundation at the foundation’s Golden Opportunities Summit in the spring. The foundation ranked CSUSB No. 6 on its Four Year California Mobility Index
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales (left) accepts an award from Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president and CEO of the College Futures Foundation at the foundation’s Golden Opportunities Summit in the spring. The foundation ranked CSUSB No. 6 on its Four Year California Mobility Index.

“These distinctions are a testament to our deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, transformative educational experience that empowers low- and moderate-income students,” university President Tomás D. Morales said. “At CSUSB, we are dedicated to providing pathways for student success and ensuring that every graduate is prepared to contribute meaningfully to the future of our state and nation.”

The College Futures Foundation, which formally recognized CSUSB at its Golden Opportunities Summit in the spring, said the goal of the CMI is to shine a spotlight on institutions that are not only enrolling underserved students — including first-generation students, students of color and adult learners — but also helping them succeed in the workforce. The index highlights the importance of postsecondary education in fostering economic well-being and preparing students for long-term success.

To calculate the rankings, the CMI draws on U.S. Department of Education data and uses two core measures: the “Price-to-Earnings Premium,” which reflects the return on investment for low- and moderate-income students, and the percentage of those students an institution enrolls — with Pell Grant recipients serving as a key metric.