The College Futures Foundation has recognized Cal State San Bernardino as one of the top four-year institutions in California when it comes to preparing its students with the tools for lifelong success and moving them up the economic ladder.

Working with the HEA Group, the foundation has launched the Four-Year California Mobility Index (CMI), which ranked CSUSB at No. 6 in the state out of 82 four-year institutions that it surveyed. The CMI is a new initiative that 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.

“We are honored that CSUSB has been recognized as one of the top six institutions in California on the Four-Year California Mobility Index,” said university President Tomás D. Morales. “This ranking reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring educational access and social mobility for low- and moderate-income students.”

The latest recognition comes after the Wall Street Journal placed CSUSB at No. 3 nationally for social mobility on its 2025 Best Colleges list, and U.S. News and World Report ranked the university at No. 12 in the country on its 2025 Best Colleges ranking.

“These distinctions are a testament to our deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, transformative educational experience that empowers low- and moderate-income students,” 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.”

In announcing the rankings, the College Futures Foundation said it prioritizes economic mobility as a cornerstone of its mission, recognizing that postsecondary education is a critical pathway to a better life for underserved learners across California.

“For many, higher education represents an opportunity to achieve economic well-being and create brighter futures,” the foundation said. “This is especially true for first-generation college students, students of color, adults seeking to reskill or upskill, and communities impacted by low wages. The foundation's focus is on ensuring that postsecondary education — whether through degrees, credentials, or training programs — is meaningfully aligned with economic mobility, equipping learners with the tools they need for long-term success in their careers and lives.”

Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, the CMI looks at two metrics: the “Price-to-Earnings Premium” that institutions offer their low- and moderate-income students; and the proportion of low- and moderate-income students an institution enrolls.  The net price and earnings data used to calculate the Price-to-Earnings Premium are reflective of students whose family income is between $0 and $75,000 upon entering college. The index looks at the percentage of Pell Grant students to assess the proportion of low- and moderate-income students an institution enrolls, as almost all Pell recipients also come from families whose income is below $75,000 per year.

Along with its ranking, the CMI found that:

  • California State University campuses are leaders in economic mobility of its students. In order, the CMI placed Cal State Los Angeles at No. 1 on its list; Cal State Dominguez Hills, No. 2; Cal State Stanislaus, No. 3; Cal State Bakersfield, No. 4; Cal State Fresno, No. 5; CSUSB, No. 6; Cal State Fullerton, No. 7; Cal State Long Beach, No. 8; Cal State Northridge, No. 9; and University of California, Merced, No. 10.
  • In the top 20 institutions on the CMI, 95%, including CSUSB, are Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
  • Public institutions provide more economic mobility than private institutions; 95% of the CMI’s top 20 are public colleges. This is because California’s public four-year colleges 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.

Access additional resources, including the full index and data available for download, at the College Futures Foundation’s 4-Year California Mobility Index website.